Anne laughed and pelted Diana with the faded ā€œJune liliesā€ of her bouquet.

ā€œStella Maynard is the dearest girl in the world except one and you are that one, Diana,ā€ she said. ā€œI love you more than ever⁠—and I’ve so many things to tell you. But just now I feel as if it were joy enough to sit here and look at you. I’m tired, I think⁠—tired of being studious and ambitious. I mean to spend at least two hours tomorrow lying out in the orchard grass, thinking of absolutely nothing.ā€

ā€œYou’ve done splendidly, Anne. I suppose you won’t be teaching now that you’ve won the Avery?ā€

ā€œNo. I’m going to Redmond in September. Doesn’t it seem wonderful? I’ll have a brand-new stock of ambition laid in by that time after three glorious, golden months of vacation. Jane and Ruby are going to teach. Isn’t it splendid to think we all got through even to Moody Spurgeon and Josie Pye?ā€

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