Anne took the first of many rambles in Old St. John 's the next afternoon . She and Priscilla had gone to Redmond in the forenoon and registered as students , after which there was nothing more to do that day . The girls gladly made their escape , for it was not exhilarating to be surrounded by crowds of strangers , most of whom had a rather alien appearance , as if not quite sure where they belonged . The `` freshettes '' stood about in detached groups of two or three , looking askance at each other ; the `` freshies , '' wiser in their day and generation , had banded themselves together on the big staircase of the entrance hall , where they were shouting out glees with all the vigor of youthful lungs , as a species of defiance to their traditional enemies , the Sophomores , a few of whom were prowling loftily about , looking properly disdainful of the `` unlicked cubs '' on the stairs . Gilbert and Charlie were nowhere to be seen . `` Little did I think the day would ever come when I 'd be glad of the sight of a Sloane , '' said Priscilla , as they crossed the campus , `` but I 'd welcome Charlie 's goggle eyes almost ecstatically . At least , they 'd be familiar eyes . '' `` Oh , '' sighed Anne . `` I ca n't describe how I felt when I was standing there , waiting my turn to be registered -- as insignificant as the teeniest drop in a most enormous bucket . It 's bad enough to feel insignificant , but it 's unbearable to have it grained into your soul that you will never , can never , be anything but insignificant , and that is how I did feel -- as if I were invisible to the naked eye and some of those Sophs might step on me . I knew I would go down to my grave unwept , unhonored and unsung . '' `` Wait till next year , '' comforted Priscilla . `` Then we 'll be able to look as bored and sophisticated as any Sophomore of them all . No doubt it is rather dreadful to feel insignificant ; but I think it 's better than to feel as big and awkward as I did -- as if I were sprawled all over Redmond . That 's how I felt -- I suppose because I was a good two inches taller than any one else in the crowd . I was n't afraid a Soph might walk over me ; I was afraid they 'd take me for an elephant , or an overgrown sample of a potato-fed Islander . '' `` I suppose the trouble is we ca n't forgive big Redmond for not being little Queen 's , '' said Anne , gathering about her the shreds of her old cheerful philosophy to cover her nakedness of spirit . `` When we left Queen 's we knew everybody and had a place of our own . I suppose we have been unconsciously expecting to take life up at Redmond just where we left off at Queen 's , and now we feel as if the ground had slipped from under our feet . I 'm thankful that neither Mrs. Lynde nor Mrs. Elisha Wright know , or ever will know , my state of mind at present .
They would exult in saying ' I told you so , ' and be convinced it was the beginning XXXXX the end .
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