A pale chilly moon looked out behind a bank of purple clouds in the west . The sky faded out , but the strip of yellow along the western horizon grew brighter and fiercer , as if all the stray gleams of light were concentrating in one spot ; the distant hills , rimmed with priest-like firs , stood out in dark distinctness against it . Anne looked across the still , white fields , cold and lifeless in the harsh light of that grim sunset , and sighed . She was very lonely ; and she was sad at heart ; for she was wondering if she would be able to return to Redmond next year . It did not seem likely . The only scholarship possible in the Sophomore year was a very small affair . She would not take Marilla 's money ; and there seemed little prospect of being able to earn enough in the summer vacation . `` I suppose I 'll just have to drop out next year , '' she thought drearily , `` and teach a district school again until I earn enough to finish my course . And by that time all my old class will have graduated and Patty 's Place will be out of the question . But there ! I 'm not going to be a coward . I 'm thankful I can earn my way through if necessary . '' `` Here 's Mr. Harrison wading up the lane , '' announced Davy , running out . `` I hope he 's brought the mail . It 's three days since we got it . I want to see what them pesky Grits are doing . I 'm a Conservative , Anne . And I tell you , you have to keep your eye on them Grits . '' Mr. Harrison had brought the mail , and merry letters from Stella and Priscilla and Phil soon dissipated Anne 's blues . Aunt Jamesina , too , had written , saying that she was keeping the hearth-fire alight , and that the cats were all well , and the house plants doing fine .
`` The weather has been real cold , '' she wrote , `` so I let the cats sleep in the house -- Rusty and Joseph on the sofa in the living-room , and the Sarah-cat on the foot XXXXX my bed .
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