He was a foeman worthy of her steel . The other members of the class tacitly acknowledged their superiority , and never dreamed of trying to compete with them . Since the day by the pond when she had refused to listen to his plea for forgiveness , Gilbert , save for the aforesaid determined rivalry , had evinced no recognition whatever of the existence of Anne Shirley . He talked and jested with the other girls , exchanged books and puzzles with them , discussed lessons and plans , sometimes walked home with one or the other of them from prayer meeting or Debating Club . But Anne Shirley he simply ignored , and Anne found out that it is not pleasant to be ignored . It was in vain that she told herself with a toss of her head that she did not care . Deep down in her wayward , feminine little heart she knew that she did care , and that if she had that chance of the Lake of Shining Waters again she would answer very differently . All at once , as it seemed , and to her secret dismay , she found that the old resentment she had cherished against him was gone -- gone just when she most needed its sustaining power . It was in vain that she recalled every incident and emotion of that memorable occasion and tried to feel the old satisfying anger . That day by the pond had witnessed its last spasmodic flicker . Anne realized that she had forgiven and forgotten without knowing it . But it was too late . And at least neither Gilbert nor anybody else , not even Diana , should ever suspect how sorry she was and how much she wished she had n't been so proud and horrid ! She determined to `` shroud her feelings in deepest oblivion , '' and it may be stated here and now that she did it , so successfully that Gilbert , who possibly was not quite so indifferent as he seemed , could not console himself with any belief that Anne felt his retaliatory scorn . The only poor comfort he had was that she snubbed Charlie Sloane , unmercifully , continually , and undeservedly . Otherwise the winter passed away in a round of pleasant duties and studies . For Anne the days slipped by like golden beads on the necklace of the year . She was happy , eager , interested ; there were lessons to be learned and honor to be won ; delightful books to read ; new pieces to be practiced for the Sunday-school choir ; pleasant Saturday afternoons at the manse with Mrs. Allan ; and then , almost before Anne realized it , spring had come again to Green Gables and all the world was abloom once more . Studies palled just a wee bit then ; the Queen 's class , left behind in school while the others scattered to green lanes and leafy wood cuts and meadow byways , looked wistfully out of the windows and discovered that Latin verbs and French exercises had somehow lost the tang and zest they had possessed in the crisp winter months . Even Anne and Gilbert lagged and grew indifferent .
Teacher and taught were alike glad when the term was ended and the glad vacation days stretched rosily XXXXX them .
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