Somehow Anne -- who did not notice the rather guilty little start of surprise the white-lace girl gave , and would not have understood the subtle compliment implied therein if she had -- got on her feet , and moved dizzily out to the front . She was so pale that Diana and Jane , down in the audience , clasped each other 's hands in nervous sympathy . Anne was the victim of an overwhelming attack of stage fright . Often as she had recited in public , she had never before faced such an audience as this , and the sight of it paralyzed her energies completely . Everything was so strange , so brilliant , so bewildering -- the rows of ladies in evening dress , the critical faces , the whole atmosphere of wealth and culture about her . Very different this from the plain benches at the Debating Club , filled with the homely , sympathetic faces of friends and neighbors . These people , she thought , would be merciless critics . Perhaps , like the white-lace girl , they anticipated amusement from her `` rustic '' efforts . She felt hopelessly , helplessly ashamed and miserable . Her knees trembled , her heart fluttered , a horrible faintness came over her ; not a word could she utter , and the next moment she would have fled from the platform despite the humiliation which , she felt , must ever after be her portion if she did so . But suddenly , as her dilated , frightened eyes gazed out over the audience , she saw Gilbert Blythe away at the back of the room , bending forward with a smile on his face -- a smile which seemed to Anne at once triumphant and taunting . In reality it was nothing of the kind . Gilbert was merely smiling with appreciation of the whole affair in general and of the effect produced by Anne 's slender white form and spiritual face against a background of palms in particular . Josie Pye , whom he had driven over , sat beside him , and her face certainly was both triumphant and taunting . But Anne did not see Josie , and would not have cared if she had . She drew a long breath and flung her head up proudly , courage and determination tingling over her like an electric shock . She WOULD NOT fail before Gilbert Blythe -- he should never be able to laugh at her , never , never ! Her fright and nervousness vanished ; and she began her recitation , her clear , sweet voice reaching to the farthest corner of the room without a tremor or a break . Self-possession was fully restored to her , and in the reaction from that horrible moment of powerlessness she recited as she had never done before . When she finished there were bursts of honest applause .
Anne , stepping back to her seat , blushing XXXXX shyness and delight , found her hand vigorously clasped and shaken by the stout lady in pink silk .
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