New worlds of thought , feeling , and ambition , fresh , fascinating fields of unexplored knowledge seemed to be opening out before Anne 's eager eyes . `` Hills peeped o'er hill and Alps on Alps arose . '' Much of all this was due to Miss Stacy 's tactful , careful , broadminded guidance . She led her class to think and explore and discover for themselves and encouraged straying from the old beaten paths to a degree that quite shocked Mrs. Lynde and the school trustees , who viewed all innovations on established methods rather dubiously . Apart from her studies Anne expanded socially , for Marilla , mindful of the Spencervale doctor 's dictum , no longer vetoed occasional outings . The Debating Club flourished and gave several concerts ; there were one or two parties almost verging on grown-up affairs ; there were sleigh drives and skating frolics galore . Betweentimes Anne grew , shooting up so rapidly that Marilla was astonished one day , when they were standing side by side , to find the girl was taller than herself . `` Why , Anne , how you 've grown ! '' she said , almost unbelievingly . A sigh followed on the words . Marilla felt a queer regret over Anne 's inches . The child she had learned to love had vanished somehow and here was this tall , serious-eyed girl of fifteen , with the thoughtful brows and the proudly poised little head , in her place . Marilla loved the girl as much as she had loved the child , but she was conscious of a queer sorrowful sense of loss . And that night , when Anne had gone to prayer meeting with Diana , Marilla sat alone in the wintry twilight and indulged in the weakness of a cry . Matthew , coming in with a lantern , caught her at it and gazed at her in such consternation that Marilla had to laugh through her tears . `` I was thinking about Anne , '' she explained . `` She 's got to be such a big girl -- and she 'll probably be away from us next winter . I 'll miss her terrible . '' `` She 'll be able to come home often , '' comforted Matthew , to whom Anne was as yet and always would be the little , eager girl he had brought home from Bright River on that June evening four years before . `` The branch railroad will be built to Carmody by that time . ''
`` It wo n't be the same thing XXXXX having her here all the time , '' sighed Marilla gloomily , determined to enjoy her luxury of grief uncomforted .
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