`` Pacifique , '' said Anne faintly , `` did you come from George Fletcher 's this morning ? '' `` Sure , '' said Pacifique amiably . `` I got de word las ' night dat my fader , he was seeck . It was so stormy dat I could n't go den , so I start vair early dis mornin ' . I 'm goin ' troo de woods for short cut . '' `` Did you hear how Gilbert Blythe was this morning ? '' Anne 's desperation drove her to the question . Even the worst would be more endurable than this hideous suspense . `` He 's better , '' said Pacifique . `` He got de turn las ' night . De doctor say he 'll be all right now dis soon while . Had close shave , dough ! Dat boy , he jus ' keel himself at college . Well , I mus ' hurry . De old man , he 'll be in hurry to see me . '' Pacifique resumed his walk and his whistle . Anne gazed after him with eyes where joy was driving out the strained anguish of the night . He was a very lank , very ragged , very homely youth . But in her sight he was as beautiful as those who bring good tidings on the mountains . Never , as long as she lived , would Anne see Pacifique 's brown , round , black-eyed face without a warm remembrance of the moment when he had given to her the oil of joy for mourning .
Long after Pacifique 's gay whistle had faded into the phantom XXXXX music and then into silence far up under the maples of Lover 's Lane Anne stood under the willows , tasting the poignant sweetness of life when some great dread has been removed from it .
after as at of on so to while with without