Anne felt it keenly ; but she told herself she was very glad and thankful that Gilbert had got so completely over his disappointment in regard to her . She had really been afraid , that April evening in the orchard , that she had hurt him terribly and that the wound would be long in healing . Now she saw that she need not have worried . Men have died and the worms have eaten them but not for love . Gilbert evidently was in no danger of immediate dissolution . He was enjoying life , and he was full of ambition and zest . For him there was to be no wasting in despair because a woman was fair and cold . Anne , as she listened to the ceaseless badinage that went on between him and Phil , wondered if she had only imagined that look in his eyes when she had told him she could never care for him . There were not lacking those who would gladly have stepped into Gilbert 's vacant place . But Anne snubbed them without fear and without reproach . If the real Prince Charming was never to come she would have none of a substitute . So she sternly told herself that gray day in the windy park . Suddenly the rain of Aunt Jamesina 's prophecy came with a swish and rush . Anne put up her umbrella and hurried down the slope . As she turned out on the harbor road a savage gust of wind tore along it . Instantly her umbrella turned wrong side out . Anne clutched at it in despair . And then -- there came a voice close to her . `` Pardon me -- may I offer you the shelter of my umbrella ? '' Anne looked up .
Tall and handsome and distinguished-looking -- dark , melancholy , inscrutable eyes -- melting , musical , sympathetic voice -- yes , the very hero of her dreams stood before her XXXXX the flesh .
As So at for in on over that to without