This commonsense , matter-of-fact view of the case cheered Anne a little . At least it removed her dread of being laughed at , though the deeper hurt of an outraged ideal remained . Chapter XVI Adjusted Relationships `` It 's the homiest spot I ever saw -- it 's homier than home , '' avowed Philippa Gordon , looking about her with delighted eyes . They were all assembled at twilight in the big living-room at Patty 's Place -- Anne and Priscilla , Phil and Stella , Aunt Jamesina , Rusty , Joseph , the Sarah-Cat , and Gog and Magog . The firelight shadows were dancing over the walls ; the cats were purring ; and a huge bowl of hothouse chrysanthemums , sent to Phil by one of the victims , shone through the golden gloom like creamy moons . It was three weeks since they had considered themselves settled , and already all believed the experiment would be a success . The first fortnight after their return had been a pleasantly exciting one ; they had been busy setting up their household goods , organizing their little establishment , and adjusting different opinions . Anne was not over-sorry to leave Avonlea when the time came to return to college . The last few days of her vacation had not been pleasant . Her prize story had been published in the Island papers ; and Mr. William Blair had , upon the counter of his store , a huge pile of pink , green and yellow pamphlets , containing it , one of which he gave to every customer . He sent a complimentary bundle to Anne , who promptly dropped them all in the kitchen stove . Her humiliation was the consequence of her own ideals only , for Avonlea folks thought it quite splendid that she should have won the prize . Her many friends regarded her with honest admiration ; her few foes with scornful envy . Josie Pye said she believed Anne Shirley had just copied the story ; she was sure she remembered reading it in a paper years before . The Sloanes , who had found out or guessed that Charlie had been `` turned down , '' said they did n't think it was much to be proud of ; almost any one could have done it , if she tried . Aunt Atossa told Anne she was very sorry to hear she had taken to writing novels ; nobody born and bred in Avonlea would do it ; that was what came of adopting orphans from goodness knew where , with goodness knew what kind of parents . Even Mrs. Rachel Lynde was darkly dubious about the propriety of writing fiction , though she was almost reconciled to it by that twenty-five dollar check . `` It is perfectly amazing , the price they pay for such lies , that 's what , '' she said , half-proudly , half-severely . All things considered , it was a relief when going-away time came . And it was very jolly to be back at Redmond , a wise , experienced Soph with hosts of friends to greet on the merry opening day .
Pris and Stella and Gilbert were there , Charlie Sloane , looking more important than ever a Sophomore looked before , XXXXX , with the Alec-and-Alonzo question still unsettled , and Moody Spurgeon MacPherson .
Charlie Patty Phil Pye Redmond Sloanes Soph Stella commonsense weeks