"What did you do Anne?" Gilbert asked her as she walked out at recess. He had noticed she had stayed back a few minutes and curiosity had hit Gilbert so he waited for her outside the door.
"I was hiding Ben-Hur inside my Canadian History book and I was reading it instead of my reader and Miss Stacy caught me." Anne said meekly.
He smiled and laughed under his breathe. "Oh Anne" he said reproaching her.
"Not you too Gil, I feel awful." She replied almost on tears again.
"Oh Anne don't cry." He whispered to her placing a hand cautiously on her shoulder. He looked around the yard, no one was looking their way even Diana was engulfed in a conversation with Ruby she hadn't even notice Anne come outside "Come on while no one's looking walk round with me." He offered. She took the offer and they walked round the other side of the school house. Once out of sight he wrapped his arms around her drawing her into his chest.
"Oh Gil I feel so bad how could I let Miss Stacy down like that?" She said sobbing.
"Anne its okay. I can't imagine Miss Stacy would shout at you?" he soothed her.
"oh she didn't she said how disappointed she was with me and that's worse than shouting. What if she doesn't like me anymore?" she said still more tears came
"oh Anne she couldn't help but love you, who could... and if she didn't shout she couldn't have been too angry..." He pacified her further "you know the best way to make it up to Miss Stacy is to work hard and remain focused. You'll soon earn yourself back into her good books." They were silent for a moment his arm stroking up and down her back as she enjoyed his touch and the smell of him coming from his jumper, she calmed so her tears subsided.
"I wish I could sit next to you again Gil, I always work better with you." She said.
"If we chose to sit together that would only get people gossiping and that's the last thing we need... We need to make sure people don't suspect...anything. We'd only get separated." He paused. They held their position for a minute and just relaxed into each other. Gilbert soon remembered where they were and what they were doing "speaking of which…" He pulled her from him knowing she had stopped crying he wiped the remaining tears from her face "you go back round first I'll follow you around in a moment."
She pulled herself away, she turned as she was leaving and smiled at him. "I'm glad you are ..."
"I know." he acknowledged ...and I you." He replied. She calmly left the scene. Gilbert waited a moment until she had gone took a deep breath and left the scene.
Neither one of them had noticed the open window which was placed next to a lone bookshelf, Miss Stacy had gone to get a book from and had stumbled upon hearing the conversation between Anne and Gilbert. That conversation was rather intimate and it sounded as though they might be... no no that was not possible, they never actually said it! She must admit she hadn't suspected anything but friendship, a very close friendship but friends all the same... now they were gone she was safe to move away without alerting them to her presence.
She rang the bell to bring the students back in she watched with interest to see if Anne and Gilbert left any residual signs of any affections. Anne sat in her chair immediately over the Isle from Gilbert. He slid in his seat. Neither one of them looked at each other unnecessarily she found herself rather bemused watching them.
Nothing all afternoon suggested anything stronger then friends and she was paying attention... she took note as she watched Gilbert, Anne and Diana walk away together... still the mask didn't slip. she was worried, she thought they would make good study partners was even going to suggest them sitting together to study for Queens exam no one else came close to their academic achievements she couldn't rightful sit them anywhere where their study partners would slow them down... other then next to each other.
Miss Stacy approached Green Gables. She had been to the Blythe's farm who had said if Gilbert wanted to join the class he could she had mentioned going to Green Gables later the father had smiled and said "you'll probably find him there the two of them are thick as thieves." So clearly the father had no clearer idea then she did. She had been disappointed when Diana's mother had refused Diana's participation in the class. It seemed sad to her that a parent would deny a girl an education. She hoped Miss Cuthbert would be different. She saw Gilbert and Anne on the porch books on the table the two exchanging ideas. She watched for a moment unseen by the two. A sweet glance was exchanged for a moment but just as quickly as it was there it had gone again as they continued in their work. She took a few steps back this time allowed herself to be seen by the pair.
"Miss Stacy!" Anne greeted.
"Hello Anne, Gilbert. Nice to see you both working so hard. Is Miss Cuthbert here?"
"yes she's in the kitchen." She led the teacher into the room. "Marilla?" Anne said.
Marilla looked up. "Miss Stacy what a pleasure. Won't you come and take a seat?"
"Thank you yes." She noticed Gilbert stood by the door "I've already been up to Blythe farm Gilbert this concerns you too won't you come in?"
She noticed Gilbert looked to Marilla for permission to even enter the kitchen. He entered as she nodded and placed himself an unusual distance away from Anne.
"Well now I have everyone concerned here... Miss Cuthbert my intention is to set up an advanced class for my more capable students to study for the entrance exams to Queens. Your father Gilbert said it would be up to you if you wanted to join the class, my purpose in coming here Miss Cuthbert is to see if Anne would like to join the class as well?"
Both Anne's and Gilbert's faces lit up they looked at each other as though it was Christmas.
"Our Anne?" Marilla asked in disbelief.
"Yes, she's bright and attentive... the only other person who really rivals her is standing next to her."
Marilla looked at them both standing side by side. Both beaming at the prospect.
"Which is why as well Miss Cuthbert. They could learn more efficiently working together..." Miss Stacy said hesitantly. "They seemed at the end of last term to drift apart for a while..."
"That was my fault." Marilla said. "I misinterpreted something I told Gilbert he couldn't come back when I found out the truth I allowed them to resume their friendship."
"Oh." Miss Stacy acknowledged. Well if they were together Miss Cuthbert's disapproval would certainly be reason to keep it a secret, but disapproving of Gilbert Blythe? She couldn't imagine why? "Well I'm glad they have reconciled because I've tried and tried to find the pair of them a study partner who matched their abilities other than each other and there really isn't anyone else who could... I was wondering with my Queens students I'll have them all together during the day and the extra hour I plan to devote to them they would be in a fixed chair plan. Well I was wondering if you would mind if they sat together to get the most out of their education?"
Marilla sighed. She supposed the teacher knew best. She didn't have that sort of education. Still a boy and a girl sitting together on school was unheard of... but of course if the boy rivalled her academically.
"I suppose they are in school there would be no harm... They already spend a vast majority of their time here sitting together." She looked sharply at the pair "no rigorous bounds of laughter the pair of you are prone to. I don't want you disrupting the rest of the school."
Miss Stacy almost laughed herself when the two shook their head simultaneously.
"Of course I give my permission for Anne to join. Of course the final word comes down to them. Do they want to join?"
Miss Stacy looked at Gilbert. "Oh I would love to thank you Miss Stacy."
She then looked to Anne who simply couldn't speak she just nodded.
"Well that's simply wonderful!" Miss Stacy exclaimed. "It wouldn't be the same without you two. Thank you Miss Cuthbert."
"You two can leave if you like," Marilla said "there's no point studying you'll both be too excited about the news. Just go for a walk stay on public paths." Marilla told them.
"Yes Miss Cuthbert." Gilbert gulped. Anne and Gilbert left the room out the back door and she saw them start towards the lake.
"They really are both very bright." Miss Stacy observed.
"Yes they are." Marilla admitted.
"Good friends too." Miss Stacy probed.
"yes uncannily so." Marilla paused. "Are they joint at the hip at school too?" She asked.
"Not in particular... They seem to enjoy each other's company when the opportunity presents itself but Anne does spend most of her time with Diana Barry and the other girls" She asked honestly. "I should be going it's getting late I need to get back to my lodging."
"Thank you for coming Miss Stacy" Marilla said showing her out.