In her arms she held a small , sleeping , black-curled creature , who for two happy years had been known to the world of Avonlea as `` Small Anne Cordelia . '' Avonlea folks knew why Diana had called her Anne , of course , but Avonlea folks were puzzled by the Cordelia . There had never been a Cordelia in the Wright or Barry connections . Mrs. Harmon Andrews said she supposed Diana had found the name in some trashy novel , and wondered that Fred had n't more sense than to allow it . But Diana and Anne smiled at each other . They knew how Small Anne Cordelia had come by her name . `` You always hated geometry , '' said Diana with a retrospective smile . `` I should think you 'd be real glad to be through with teaching , anyhow . '' `` Oh , I 've always liked teaching , apart from geometry . These past three years in Summerside have been very pleasant ones . Mrs. Harmon Andrews told me when I came home that I would n't likely find married life as much better than teaching as I expected . Evidently Mrs. Harmon is of Hamlet 's opinion that it may be better to bear the ills that we have than fly to others that we know not of . '' Anne 's laugh , as blithe and irresistible as of yore , with an added note of sweetness and maturity , rang through the garret . Marilla in the kitchen below , compounding blue plum preserve , heard it and smiled ; then sighed to think how seldom that dear laugh would echo through Green Gables in the years to come . Nothing in her life had ever given Marilla so much happiness as the knowledge that Anne was going to marry Gilbert Blythe ; but every joy must bring with it its little shadow of sorrow . During the three Summerside years Anne had been home often for vacations and weekends ; but , after this , a bi-annual visit would be as much as could be hoped for . `` You need n't let what Mrs. Harmon says worry you , '' said Diana , with the calm assurance of the four-years matron . `` Married life has its ups and downs , of course . You must n't expect that everything will always go smoothly . But I can assure you , Anne , that it 's a happy life , when you 're married to the right man . ''
XXXXX smothered a smile .
Anne Cordelia Diana Fred Harmon Marilla Summerside Wright weekends years