She felt hopelessly , helplessly ashamed and miserable . Her knees trembled , her heart fluttered , a horrible faintness came over her ; not a word could she utter , and the next moment she would have fled from the platform despite the humiliation which , she felt , must ever after be her portion if she did so . But suddenly , as her dilated , frightened eyes gazed out over the audience , she saw Gilbert Blythe away at the back of the room , bending forward with a smile on his face -- a smile which seemed to Anne at once triumphant and taunting . In reality it was nothing of the kind . Gilbert was merely smiling with appreciation of the whole affair in general and of the effect produced by Anne 's slender white form and spiritual face against a background of palms in particular . Josie Pye , whom he had driven over , sat beside him , and her face certainly was both triumphant and taunting . But Anne did not see Josie , and would not have cared if she had . She drew a long breath and flung her head up proudly , courage and determination tingling over her like an electric shock . She WOULD NOT fail before Gilbert Blythe -- he should never be able to laugh at her , never , never ! Her fright and nervousness vanished ; and she began her recitation , her clear , sweet voice reaching to the farthest corner of the room without a tremor or a break . Self-possession was fully restored to her , and in the reaction from that horrible moment of powerlessness she recited as she had never done before . When she finished there were bursts of honest applause . Anne , stepping back to her seat , blushing with shyness and delight , found her hand vigorously clasped and shaken by the stout lady in pink silk . `` My dear , you did splendidly , '' she puffed . `` I 've been crying like a baby , actually I have . There , they 're encoring you -- they 're bound to have you back ! '' `` Oh , I ca n't go , '' said Anne confusedly . `` But yet -- I must , or Matthew will be disappointed . He said they would encore me . '' `` Then do n't disappoint Matthew , '' said the pink lady , laughing .
Smiling , blushing , limpid eyed , XXXXX tripped back and gave a quaint , funny little selection that captivated her audience still further .
Anne Blythe Gilbert Josie Matthew Pye encore faintness powerlessness shyness