`` I 'm just going to wait until somebody comes and tells me suddenly whether I 've passed or not . '' When three weeks had gone by without the pass list appearing Anne began to feel that she really could n't stand the strain much longer . Her appetite failed and her interest in Avonlea doings languished . Mrs. Lynde wanted to know what else you could expect with a Tory superintendent of education at the head of affairs , and Matthew , noting Anne 's paleness and indifference and the lagging steps that bore her home from the post office every afternoon , began seriously to wonder if he had n't better vote Grit at the next election . But one evening the news came . Anne was sitting at her open window , for the time forgetful of the woes of examinations and the cares of the world , as she drank in the beauty of the summer dusk , sweet-scented with flower breaths from the garden below and sibilant and rustling from the stir of poplars . The eastern sky above the firs was flushed faintly pink from the reflection of the west , and Anne was wondering dreamily if the spirit of color looked like that , when she saw Diana come flying down through the firs , over the log bridge , and up the slope , with a fluttering newspaper in her hand . Anne sprang to her feet , knowing at once what that paper contained . The pass list was out ! Her head whirled and her heart beat until it hurt her . She could not move a step . It seemed an hour to her before Diana came rushing along the hall and burst into the room without even knocking , so great was her excitement . `` Anne , you 've passed , '' she cried , `` passed the VERY FIRST -- you and Gilbert both -- you 're ties -- but your name is first . Oh , I 'm so proud ! '' Diana flung the paper on the table and herself on Anne 's bed , utterly breathless and incapable of further speech . Anne lighted the lamp , oversetting the match safe and using up half a dozen matches before her shaking hands could accomplish the task . Then she snatched up the paper . Yes , she had passed -- there was her name at the very top of a list of two hundred ! That moment was worth living for . `` You did just splendidly , Anne , '' puffed Diana , recovering sufficiently to sit up and speak , for Anne , starry eyed and rapt , had not uttered a word .
`` Father brought the paper home XXXXX Bright River not ten minutes ago -- it came out on the afternoon train , you know , and wo n't be here till tomorrow by mail -- and when I saw the pass list I just rushed over like a wild thing .
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