But she thought that if Gilbert had ever walked home with her from the train , over the crisp fields and along the ferny byways , they might have had many and merry and interesting conversations about the new world that was opening around them and their hopes and ambitions therein . Gilbert was a clever young fellow , with his own thoughts about things and a determination to get the best out of life and put the best into it . Ruby Gillis told Jane Andrews that she did n't understand half the things Gilbert Blythe said ; he talked just like Anne Shirley did when she had a thoughtful fit on and for her part she did n't think it any fun to be bothering about books and that sort of thing when you did n't have to . Frank Stockley had lots more dash and go , but then he was n't half as good-looking as Gilbert and she really could n't decide which she liked best ! In the Academy Anne gradually drew a little circle of friends about her , thoughtful , imaginative , ambitious students like herself . With the `` rose-red '' girl , Stella Maynard , and the `` dream girl , '' Priscilla Grant , she soon became intimate , finding the latter pale spiritual-looking maiden to be full to the brim of mischief and pranks and fun , while the vivid , black-eyed Stella had a heartful of wistful dreams and fancies , as aerial and rainbow-like as Anne 's own . After the Christmas holidays the Avonlea students gave up going home on Fridays and settled down to hard work . By this time all the Queen 's scholars had gravitated into their own places in the ranks and the various classes had assumed distinct and settled shadings of individuality . Certain facts had become generally accepted . It was admitted that the medal contestants had practically narrowed down to three -- Gilbert Blythe , Anne Shirley , and Lewis Wilson ; the Avery scholarship was more doubtful , any one of a certain six being a possible winner . The bronze medal for mathematics was considered as good as won by a fat , funny little up-country boy with a bumpy forehead and a patched coat . Ruby Gillis was the handsomest girl of the year at the Academy ; in the Second Year classes Stella Maynard carried off the palm for beauty , with small but critical minority in favor of Anne Shirley . Ethel Marr was admitted by all competent judges to have the most stylish modes of hair-dressing , and Jane Andrews -- plain , plodding , conscientious Jane -- carried off the honors in the domestic science course . Even Josie Pye attained a certain preeminence as the sharpest-tongued young lady in attendance at Queen 's . So it may be fairly stated that Miss Stacy 's old pupils held their own in the wider arena of the academical course . Anne worked hard and steadily . Her rivalry with Gilbert was as intense as it had ever been in Avonlea school , although it was not known in the class at large , but somehow the bitterness had gone out of it . Anne no longer wished to win for the sake of defeating Gilbert ; rather , for the proud consciousness of a well-won victory over a worthy foeman . It would be worth while to win , but she no longer thought life would be insupportable if she did not . In spite of lessons the students found opportunities for pleasant times .
XXXXX spent many of her spare hours at Beechwood and generally ate her Sunday dinners there and went to church with Miss Barry .
Andrews Anne Blythe Gilbert Gillis Marr Stella Stockley foeman hair-dressing