"What?!"
"Will you marry me?"
"I .. I don't … I mean … Hamlet … and … and … Green … and I'm not even … I'm so … you're so …"
Their eyes caught. A moment the length of an eternity passed.
"I understand," said Gilbert, crushed. He turned to leave.
"No," said Anne, forcefully grabbing his arm. "No, not this time. You are NOT walking away from me before I've had an opportunity to collect my thoughts and find the words to express what I mean to say. Do you understand?" She paused. "Do you?"
"Yes."
Anne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Opening them slowly she said:
"Gilbert, I love you. You know I do."
"I love you too."
"When I dream at night I see our lives together. We're married of course, and we have a beautiful, picturesque home with a weeping willow and heaps of children. I can see it all, Gilbert."
"I see it too."
"I know that you do," she smiled. "But, Gilbert, that's the future, not now."
"Why not?"
"I'm 17 years old. Not a child, certainly, but not a full-fledged adult either. I can't even vote! You're an old soul but not me. I am still … developing."
"We don't have to get married right away, if that's what you're worried about. It will be three years before I'm finished medical school, and even then there's graduate school and residency and …"
"I'm not ready," Anne said with resolution. She took his hands in hers. "The moment we become engaged I cease being Anne Shirley-Cuthbert. From that point forward, I am and will always be Mrs. Gilbert Blythe."
"Is that so bad?"
"No, of course not. But before I assume your identity, I want to make sure I have fully flushed one of my own."
"I'm sorry but I don't understand."
"Of course you don't, you're a man," said Anne with an almost amused look on her face.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he countered, haughtily.
"I didn't mean to offend you, Gilbert, or your sex. All I mean to say is that I have more to do on my own right before I bind myself to another, and I won't be rushed."
"Well," said Gilbert sharply. "Christopher will be thrilled."
"What's that supposed to mean? I told you, Christopher and I are just friends."
"Anne, you're so naïve."
"Is that right?"
"It is! The world is all diamond sunburst and marble halls to you. The real world is nothing like the fantasy you cling to. You're fooling yourself."
"I'm a fool, then, eh? A fool who can't be trusted in the company of man who has feelings for me. Does that about sum it up?"
"If the shoe fits …" It was clear from Gilbert's expression that he regretted it the moment he'd said it. Anne had this way of getting him going and he'd lost himself. Anne looked stunned, like a dagger had pierced her heart. At that moment, Christopher and his chums burst from the door of the pub with their arms around one another singing an old sea chanty.
"Anne!" called Christopher. "You're still here! Smashing! Wait until I tell you about the …"
Gilbert grabbed Anne's hands and bowed his head such that their foreheads were almost touching.
"I will ask you once more," he said in a whisper. "Will you marry me?"
Their foreheads touched and their eyes closed. For a moment, Gilbert was walking on air, sure that nothing could stand in the way of true love.
"No," said Anne quietly, her voice quivering.
"Is this your final answer?" Anne tried to form the words but she couldn't. The silence hovered between them until it was unbearable to entertain any longer. At that moment, a switch flicked inside Gilbert somewhere and he closed his heart to her.
"Goodbye, Anne."
With no more than a fleeting glance, he bent down to pick up his cap, turned, and disappeared into the dark night.