Phil noticed that Queen Anne's smile seemed a little stiff, as she responded in her usual blithe way to the congratulations that Royal´s sisters showered on her. The look in her clear greygreen eyes had many nuances, and Phil couldn't interpret it at all. Royal Gardner, stood groomed within every inch, his dark curls smelling of jasmine, next to Anne, he looked a little ridiculous in similar gowns, like the other Art graduates. Quite unlike Gilbert Blythe, who seemed to be at the center of the merry crowd, there were a few Lambs, members of the football team, and Claire Hallet, who had already removed her robe, revealing a delicate pale day dress of the latest fashion, with narrow bustleskirt. Claire Hallet giggled with a soft flirtatious lightness as she exclaimed, "Oh, Mr. Blythe, I can count on you dancing with me, at least a few waltzes. The girl must be sure, at least of a few cavaliers?" Slightly irritated, Phil noticed that Claire Hallet had put her honey blonde curls into the identical hairstyle that Phil had thought of putting on herself for the evening's graduation dance.

Mildly surprised, Phil found that Gilbert's attitude towards Claire Hallett was somewhat similar to the rare times in the autumn when Gilbert had come to visit Pattys Place, and Phil had drawn Gilbert to banter with her, but without the mischievous cordiality that had always been between them, the crux of their encounters, as if Gilbert was trying to catch up on lost time, in the bustling crowd of Pattys Place, and after their mutual lectures, that thought wouldn't leave Phil alone. Several times Phil had considered writing about this idea to Jo, but something had always stopped her hand. The old cook of Mount Holly, had always said in Phil's childhood, "Pet, stick to your intuition, you may seem vain, over the top, that's how girls are raised, especially rich ones, but trust that instinct, it will put you on the right path."

Stella and Priscilla, rustled up to Phil, as Stella said lightly, "What are you up to Phil oh, wisp? Can we take part in it?"

Phil glanced around, in the great lavish hall where just moments before the newly minted B.A's had received their certificates, as she said lightly, "Lots of rumors floating around today, and more before the night comes, I think. Darlings, let's go to Anne, unless Roy has spirited her away again!"

Gilbert was only too aware that on the other side of the room stood Anne, in a close cluster, around her Pattys Place lasses, all the girls laughing heartily, as Phil had thrown out, as was her way, some social, mischievous remark. A few moments before, Gilbert had noticed that Phil had glanced in his direction, and there had been a thoughtful expression in the dark-haired charming girl's large brown twinkling eyes that had steeled, a touch as Claire Hallet had been jabbering in her usual style, that particular kind of honey-sweet airs, a simpering routine that was tedious to behold.

Royal Gardner, bent down to whisper, something in Anne's ear. And a light wave of color swept over Anne's cheeks. The warm laughter of the Pattys Place girls just got louder as Royal escorted Anne out of the hall.

Gilbert turned to the Lambs again, and one of them pointedly remarked, "Rumor has it that Old Man Gardner was very fond of English vice, in his time. It may be that Gardner is in for wild time with that one, for aren't red-haired women always said to be passionate. I wouldn't mind at all, if I could get a taste of that one."

Gilbert's hand clenched into a fist, and almost without thinking his weight shifted, into scrapping pose, like in Avonlea, as Fred and he had playfully fought, the smell of hay around them in Wright's barn. But then cold logic got the better of Gilbert as he said, "Gentlemen, one would almost imagine that some of you have had something stronger than water already at this point. Your ladies will not thank you if they don't get to dance the night away."

There was a low whistle, and one of them said, "Gil, is it true you bought Miss Stuart a real amethyst? My sister saw her, with Aline Gardner, in a coffee-house, you know that little place, near the Conservatorium. Miss Stuart seemed perfectly content, like a cat who licked the cream off her whiskers, in dainty way. If you're trying to get into the favor of the Stuarts, you've found the right way, old chap."

Amused, Gilbert straightened his posture, and remembered how a couple of days earlier Christine had been so worried about him coping with the pressures of the exams. When Gilbert had inquired about a possible flower corsage for the evening's occasion, Christine had only smiled with a feminine mystery, and said lightly, "We're going to have fun, I promise."

Redmond was abuzz on that beautiful clear afternoon, as ball gowns were brought out and critically scrutinized. Cufflinks were polished, and bows were selected. And then when the evening grew dark, the nightingale sang enchantingly in the well-kept gardens, and in the silence of the glazebo in the park, some lovers sat, and watched the stars, as they shone in the velvety sky, the graduation dance began in Redmond's great hall.

The orchestra stood on the platform, the violins and cellos played well-known melodies, beginning with Redmond's song, the tune, all the B.A.'s who received their diplomas in the morning filed in, in orderly rows. The girls' cheeks glowed with excitement, satin gloves and hems rustled, in all possible shades, but in general the various shades of white were supreme. The dance cards were filled, and on the parquet the couples danced, steadily, dignified, or alternately joyfully, depending on the song.

Gilbert couldn't see Anne anywhere, but it could very well be that the girls from Pattys Place hadn't arrived yet, the crowd was pouring in through the large double doors in a steady stream. Candles flickered, their light reflected off large mirrors, and despite the combination of fashionable clothes and music, for a moment Gilbert felt as if he were witnessing the beginning of the end, as if he were standing in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, and a violent storm was brewing on the horizon. There were rumors that typhus might have broken out somewhere in Kingsport, but you could never be sure of these things. There were still public wells, and from them several blocks of houses drew their water, if any of them had been spoiled..

Shivering, Gilbert closed his eyes, and then he was startled by the unknown polite, and warm voice said in a somewhat drawn-out style, " Monsieur Blythe, it is gratifying that my little present adorns your wrists. You're right, they really do match your suit."

Gilbert turned to see a tall blond man standing next to him, a man a few years older, who looked a bit like a football player, dressed in an impeccable suit, and a cream colored shirt, his bow was dark purple, and silky. The man narrowed his blue-gray eyes, and said softly, companionably, "I had to pull quite some strings to get here, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss this evening, at any cost. You look just as stunned as my beloved guessed." Gilbert felt a genuine smile come to his lips as he replied, "Mr. Dawson, recently of New Orleans, I presume?" Andrew laughed softly as he said, with utmost sincerity, and warm charm. "Women, you always have to wait for them, don't you, but usually it's worth it."

At that juncture, Gilbert discovered that Phil and Anne had arrived. Anne's face was slightly pale, her hair was brilliantly combed on top of her head, in elaborate upsweep-style, her posture was extremely straight, and her graceful neck was completely bare, devoid of her usual string of pearls. The pale cream rose-chiffon dress rustled quietly as Phil leaned over to say something confidential in Anne's ear. Even across the wide room, Gilbert noticed how Anne's eyes flashed green, and thoughtfully he wondered what Phil might have pointed out. And then a radiant, cheerful smile appeared on her features as Royal, walked across the floor to Anne, bowing formally, and then they were on the dance floor, among the other couples. One nervous youth appeared to be dancing with Stella, another with Priscilla, and a third with Phil.

Andrew Dawson glanced at the dance floor and pointedly remarked, "That red-haired girl is a splendid apparition in her own right, but her cavalier seems a little self-absorbed, I know that type, they want to possess, and I don't think that girl will put up with that, at least not for long. She seems too spirited."

A sudden wild hope arose from Andrew Dawson's words, in Gilbert's heart, quite unexpectedly, and suddenly he made a certain decision. He would ask Anne to dance tonight, even though Anne might reject him, even though that delicate bouquet of Lily of the Valley, might indicate otherwise, as she had worn his token. Possibility of cold, cool, polite treatment from Anne, was nothing new to him, not even after years. With renewed focus, Gilbert engaged Andrew Dawson in a spirited conversation about the wonders of New Orleans, and how pleasant it was to be back in Kingsport after years.

The violins wailed in a romantic lingering style, as Gilbert perceived that Andrew Dawson's attention was fixed on the door, and the man's heart was in his eyes, as Christine strode loftily in. Gilbert would have expected to see Christine in a familiar bluish shade, potentially a pale light blue that would have tinged with white, but instead she wore a pale pale powder and rose tint, a narrow, voluminous skirt pleated, and gathered artfully. The bodice of the dress was narrow and high and extremely tight, a cuirasse, and had ample 18th century style sleeves with lace flowing down to Christine's elbows. Christine smiled as she glided over to them and said, "Well?" Andrew whispered something in Christine's ear in a low voice. Amused, Gilbert noticed how Christine's usually controlled social mask broke a little as she mischievously waved her fan in Andrew's direction, as he bowed almost exaggeratedly, and escorted Christine to the dance floor, as they were chatting in amenable way heads close together. Satisfied, but a little lonely, Gilbert watched them dance as the songs changed, almost on the fly. His time with Christine´s cavalier was now nearly at end, soon.

With determined steps, Gilbert walked towards a corner where Anne was sitting with Phil. Gardner was nowhere to be seen. Seeing Gilbert coming, Phil gave Anne a quick smile, and winked at Gilbert as she said lightly, "I'm going to find where Pris has gone."

Anne gave him an oddly cool glance as she answered his request, regretfully, but somehow triumphantly, "Oh, my dance card is full, really, Gilbert."

A few moments later, Gilbert danced with Christine, a romantic, slow waltz. Gilbert said mischievously, "Are you happy?" This close, Gilbert smelled the tantalizing scent of Christine's rose water, as the dark-haired girl leaned softly, according to the rules of the waltz against him, the soft hems rustling mysteriously, as she murmured, " I would be, if my corset wasn't laced so, so tight. Claire Hallet pulled too strong, but I guess one have to suffer a little because of fashion."

Gilbert, laughed freely, as he remarked, " I have never understood the corsets, I know they are necessary, but the practice of tight-lacing can be quite injurious, to inner organs." Christine threw a calculating look from between her eyelashes, towards Gilbert, as she remarked, in saucy way, "Don't preach today, soon to be medical student, Blythe!" Gilbert, only grinned impishly in reply as he stretched out his hand and spun Christine in a wide arc, as strains of Strauss waltzes glimmered, formally romantic. There was breathless, lovely laughter of Christine that melted into waltz-strains, complementing them in counterpoint.

Royal Gardner, pressed his cheek against Miss Shirley's fragrant hair, as he murmured, in a slightly hurt but polite voice, " My treasure, did you not like the flowers I chose for you, for to-day? Let us enjoy this evening, you are exceedingly beautiful to-day, like some flower- a nymph who only allows us mortals to admire her splendor for a moment."

Anne felt a pulse thump in her neck as she responded gently to Roy's compliment, which tonight sounded remarkably flat, even though it was stunningly romantic in its own right. Anne, with a shudder, lowered her eyes, for she did not wish to see the radiant happiness that seemed to be glowing directly from Christine Stuart, the dark-haired girl had, a few dances before, been almost ecstatic in the arms of her fair cavalier, and now she was only a few yards away, dancing with Gilbert, delicately, in spite of her large feet.

In the ballroom people cast interested glances at the dancing couples, as Royal Gardner, with Anne Shirley, and Gilbert Blythe, with Christine Stuart danced relatively close together, and in the shadows perhaps a few bets were made, and also lost. Claire Hallet conquered several new hearts, as did Phil Gordon, and Stella Maynard, Priscilla Grant, in their dresses, amid dancing turns were called. Aline Gardner haughtily appeared to be conversing with a very handsome fair-haired gentleman with a southern twang in his voice.

A little later, in the glow of the fire at Pattys Place, the girls exchanged recollections of the evening's various events. Then Phil inquired, "Queen Anne, I was surprised why you didn't go to dance with Gilbert when he asked you to. Gilbert danced with rest of us in turn, when he wasn't discussing with that gorgeous looking blonde man, with a violet bowtie, or danced with Christine, she really dances delightfully."

Stella threw a warning glance in Phil's direction, but the girl did not notice this.

Anne said in a slightly strained but naturally cheerful sounding voice that sounded too strained to her own ears, "Oh, my dance card was full, and I was tired, at the time. It was so hot in the hall, all that crowd."

In the solitude of her own blue room, Anne sat exhausted by the open window and gently rubbed her temples, they were throbbing. The forced hilarity of the last few hours had been horrible, but it had been the only option. Anne still remembered with extreme clarity the light, carefree words Phil had said about Gilbert and the engagement. All evening Anne had been waiting for it to happen, but nothing had happened, the dance had just gone on, endlessly, like some grim nightmare, a labyrinth with no exit, decorated with thorny roses. Anne thoughtfully placed her long-fingered hand on her chin, and thought, slightly sarcastically." Of course Gilbert can betroth whoever he wants, even her." But still, the aching, nagging pain in her heart did not subside, even as the pale dawn cast its colors on the dewy garden of Patty's Place.