One October morning Anne wakened to the realisation that she had slept for the last time under the roof of her little house . The day was too busy to indulge regret and when evening came the house was stripped and bare . Anne and Gilbert were alone in it to say farewell . Leslie and Susan and Little Jem had gone to the Glen with the last load of furniture . The sunset light streamed in through the curtainless windows . `` It has all such a heart-broken , reproachful look , has n't it ? '' said Anne . `` Oh , I shall be so homesick at the Glen tonight ! '' `` We have been very happy here , have n't we , Anne-girl ? '' said Gilbert , his voice full of feeling . Anne choked , unable to answer . Gilbert waited for her at the fir-tree gate , while she went over the house and said farewell to every room . She was going away ; but the old house would still be there , looking seaward through its quaint windows . The autumn winds would blow around it mournfully , and the gray rain would beat upon it and the white mists would come in from the sea to enfold it ; and the moonlight would fall over it and light up the old paths where the schoolmaster and his bride had walked . There on that old harbor shore the charm of story would linger ; the wind would still whistle alluringly over the silver sand-dunes ; the waves would still call from the red rock-coves . `` But we will be gone , '' said Anne through her tears . She went out , closing and locking the door behind her . Gilbert was waiting for her with a smile . The lighthouse star was gleaming northward . The little garden , where only marigolds still bloomed , was already hooding itself in shadows .
XXXXX knelt down and kissed the worn old step which she had crossed as a bride .
Anne Gilbert Glen Jem Leslie Susan choked fall lighthouse sand-dunes