But neither Marilla nor Anne nor anybody else was fated to make pies out of Yellow Duchess apples that year . The twenty-third of May came ... an unseasonably warm day , as none realized more keenly than Anne and her little beehive of pupils , sweltering over fractions and syntax in the Avonlea schoolroom . A hot breeze blew all the forenoon ; but after noon hour it died away into a heavy stillness . At half past three Anne heard a low rumble of thunder . She promptly dismissed school at once , so that the children might get home before the storm came . As they went out to the playground Anne perceived a certain shadow and gloom over the world in spite of the fact that the sun was still shining brightly . Annetta Bell caught her hand nervously . `` Oh , teacher , look at that awful cloud ! '' Anne looked and gave an exclamation of dismay . In the northwest a mass of cloud , such as she had never in all her life beheld before , was rapidly rolling up . It was dead black , save where its curled and fringed edges showed a ghastly , livid white . There was something about it indescribably menacing as it gloomed up in the clear blue sky ; now and again a bolt of lightning shot across it , followed by a savage growl . It hung so low that it almost seemed to be touching the tops of the wooded hills . Mr. Harmon Andrews came clattering up the hill in his truck wagon , urging his team of grays to their utmost speed . He pulled them to a halt opposite the school . `` Guess Uncle Abe 's hit it for once in his life , Anne , '' he shouted . `` His storm 's coming a leetle ahead of time . Did ye ever see the like of that cloud ? Here , all you young ones , that are going my way , pile in , and those that ai n't scoot for the post office if ye 've more 'n a quarter of a mile to go , and stay there till the shower 's over . '' Anne caught Davy and Dora by the hands and flew down the hill , along the Birch Path , and past Violet Vale and Willowmere , as fast as the twins ' fat legs could go .
They reached Green Gables not a moment too soon and were joined at the door by XXXXX , who had been hustling her ducks and chickens under shelter .
Andrews Duchess Marilla Path day hour quarter storm twenty-third year