Jane and Ruby and Josie , who had dropped in , did not take this view of it . To them the coming examinations were constantly very important indeed -- far more important than chestnut buds or Maytime hazes . It was all very well for Anne , who was sure of passing at least , to have her moments of belittling them , but when your whole future depended on them -- as the girls truly thought theirs did -- you could not regard them philosophically . `` I 've lost seven pounds in the last two weeks , '' sighed Jane . `` It 's no use to say do n't worry . I WILL worry . Worrying helps you some -- it seems as if you were doing something when you 're worrying . It would be dreadful if I failed to get my license after going to Queen 's all winter and spending so much money . '' '' I do n't care , '' said Josie Pye . `` If I do n't pass this year I 'm coming back next . My father can afford to send me . Anne , Frank Stockley says that Professor Tremaine said Gilbert Blythe was sure to get the medal and that Emily Clay would likely win the Avery scholarship . '' `` That may make me feel badly tomorrow , Josie , '' laughed Anne , `` but just now I honestly feel that as long as I know the violets are coming out all purple down in the hollow below Green Gables and that little ferns are poking their heads up in Lovers ' Lane , it 's not a great deal of difference whether I win the Avery or not . I 've done my best and I begin to understand what is meant by the ` joy of the strife . ' Next to trying and winning , the best thing is trying and failing . Girls , do n't talk about exams ! Look at that arch of pale green sky over those houses and picture to yourself what it must look like over the purply-dark beech-woods back of Avonlea . '' `` What are you going to wear for commencement , Jane ? '' asked Ruby practically . Jane and Josie both answered at once and the chatter drifted into a side eddy of fashions .
But XXXXX , with her elbows on the window sill , her soft cheek laid against her clasped hands , and her eyes filled with visions , looked out unheedingly across city roof and spire to that glorious dome of sunset sky and wove her dreams of a possible future from the golden tissue of youth 's own optimism .
Anne Blythe Gables Jane Josie Maytime Queen Ruby beech-woods weeks