I supposed it would come some day -- but I certainly never thought it would be by proxy . It 's awfully funny -- and yet there 's a sting in it , too , somehow . '' Anne knew quite well wherein the sting consisted , though she did not put it into words . She had had her secret dreams of the first time some one should ask her the great question . And it had , in those dreams , always been very romantic and beautiful : and the `` some one '' was to be very handsome and dark-eyed and distinguished-looking and eloquent , whether he were Prince Charming to be enraptured with `` yes , '' or one to whom a regretful , beautifully worded , but hopeless refusal must be given . If the latter , the refusal was to be expressed so delicately that it would be next best thing to acceptance , and he would go away , after kissing her hand , assuring her of his unalterable , life-long devotion . And it would always be a beautiful memory , to be proud of and a little sad about , also . And now , this thrilling experience had turned out to be merely grotesque . Billy Andrews had got his sister to propose for him because his father had given him the upper farm ; and if Anne would n't `` have him '' Nettie Blewett would . There was romance for you , with a vengeance ! Anne laughed -- and then sighed . The bloom had been brushed from one little maiden dream . Would the painful process go on until everything became prosaic and hum-drum ? Chapter IX An Unwelcome Lover and a Welcome Friend The second term at Redmond sped as quickly as had the first -- `` actually whizzed away , '' Philippa said . Anne enjoyed it thoroughly in all its phases -- the stimulating class rivalry , the making and deepening of new and helpful friendships , the gay little social stunts , the doings of the various societies of which she was a member , the widening of horizons and interests . She studied hard , for she had made up her mind to win the Thorburn Scholarship in English . This being won , meant that she could come back to Redmond the next year without trenching on Marilla 's small savings -- something Anne was determined she would not do . Gilbert , too , was in full chase after a scholarship , but found plenty of time for frequent calls at Thirty-eight , St. John 's . He was Anne 's escort at nearly all the college affairs , and she knew that their names were coupled in Redmond gossip . Anne raged over this but was helpless ; she could not cast an old friend like Gilbert aside , especially when he had grown suddenly wise and wary , as behooved him in the dangerous proximity of more than one Redmond youth who would gladly have taken his place by the side of the slender , red-haired coed , whose gray eyes were as alluring as stars of evening .
Anne was never attended by the crowd XXXXX willing victims who hovered around Philippa 's conquering march through her Freshman year ; but there was a lanky , brainy Freshie , a jolly , little , round Sophomore , and a tall , learned Junior who all liked to call at Thirty-eight , St. John 's , and talk over ` ologies and ` isms , as well as lighter subjects , with Anne , in the becushioned parlor of that domicile .
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