01x09 - Next to Trying and Winning, the Best Thing Is Trying and Failing

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Passing the Queen's Entrance

meant that I would be leaving

Avonlea come fall.

You must write me every day.

We aren't parting forever, you know?

But I will write often.

You take care, now.

I will. And I'll come home on weekends.

Anne!

There never was a luckier mistake

than what Mrs. Spencer made.

I suppose not.

It was Providence,

because the Almighty saw

we needed her, I reckon.

Chapter 9

Next to Trying and Winning,

the Best Thing Is Trying

and Failing

I can't help admiring you, Anne.

I mean, a First-Class teacher's

license in one year?

We'll be doing Second-Class

work in the same time.

It normally takes two years for a

First-Class license, doesn't it?

Miss Stacy advised me to

take up Second-Year work.

I'll work hard and hope

I'm equal to the challenge.

Won't Gilbert be in your class, then?

Why don't you forget the past

and be friends with him?

I think you're being impossible.

You don't know anyone else in

your class but Gilbert, do you?

Oh, Gilbert!

Good morning.

We're at a school, but I hope

we'll all stay friends.

Sure.

Why, Gilbert, that shirt

looks fetching on you.

Oh, thank you.

Dearest Diana,

It is so lonesome now I cannot bear it,

surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

I wouldn't feel so much like

a cat in a strange garret

if only Jane and Ruby had gone

in for First-Class, too.

I wonder which of the girls here

are going to be my friends.

I like the look of that girl with the

brown eyes and the crimson waist.

She looks vivid and red-rosy;

and there's that pale, fair

one gazing out of the window.

She has lovely hair, and looks as if

she knew a thing or two about dreams.

But just now I don't know them

and they don't know me,

and probably don't want

to know me particularly.

Gilbert looks awfully determined.

I suppose he's made up his

mind to win the medal.

I feel thankful for any familiar

face now, even Gilbert's.

How homesick I feel, writing to

you alone in my boarding house.

But I won't cry. It's silly.

I tell a lie.

There's the third tear splashing down.

I must think of something

funny to stop them.

But there's nothing funny except

what is connected with Avonlea.

Oh, Matthew is nearly home by now.

And Marilla is at the gate,

looking down the lane for him.

Six, seven Oh, there's

no use in counting them!

They're coming in a flood presently.

I can't cheer up—I don't want to

cheer up. It's nicer to be miserable!

You've been crying.

What if I have?

Are you honestly homesick already?

What is it to you?

But I'm so glad you came up.

It's a relief to see any familiar face.

Town's too jolly after

that poky old Avonlea.

Have you anything eatable around, Anne?

I'm literally starving.

I guessed Marilla'd

load you up with treats.

What? These are tiny.

And they taste like the country.

Oh, that reminds me, Queen's is to get

one of the Avery scholarships after all.

Is it really?!

Yes. It will be announced

in the Academy tomorrow.

What's got into you?

Then if I make the highest

mark in English Literature,

I'll win a scholarship at Redmond College?

Two hundred and fifty dollars

a year for four years.

Wouldn't Matthew be proud if I won

the Avery and got to be a B.A.?

I know English is your subject,

but you can't be serious.

I'll win that scholarship

if hard work can do it.

Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions!

Just as soon as you attain to one,

you see another one

glittering higher up still!

Dearest Diana,

The girls in my class are so thoughtful,

imaginative, and especially ambitious.

The "rose-red" girl, Stella, is considered

the handsomest girl in our year.

The "dream girl," Priscilla, is full to

the brim of mischief and pranks and fun.

The medal contestants have narrowed down

to three—Anne, Gilbert, and Lewis.

You're after the Avery, too, aren't you?

You have more rivals for that.

I'll just have to keep working.

Why must getting a teacher's

license be such a chore?

Just think of going home for Christmas.

That's something to look forward to.

Oh, yes.

Anne!

Diana!

Merry Christmas, Anne!

Merry Christmas, Diana!

They're at it again.

They see each other every weekend.

What a joy it is to see your face.

I thought you'd come to prefer

Stella and Priscilla.

They are both wonderful people.

But no Queen's girl shall ever

be as dear to me as you, Diana.

If anything, I love you more than before.

Thank you.

I think the train will be here soon.

You needn't wait in the cold with me.

Go on.

I'm ever so glad I got to

spend Christmas with you.

I won't see you again

till spring, I suppose.

Mind your health, now.

And you keep warm, Matthew.

It's hard to believe the

Christmas holidays are already over.

We won't have time to come home

again until after the exams.

I suppose not.

We'd better settle down to hard work.

Yes.

I won't let you beat me.

Neither will I.

It doesn't seem possible that

the term is nearly over.

It would be dreadful if I failed to get

my license after spending so much money.

If I don't pass this year,

I'm coming back next.

Is that so?

By the way, Anne, Professor Tremaine said

Gilbert Blythe was sure to get the medal

and that Emily Clay would likely

win the Avery scholarship.

Really, Josie!

That may make me feel

badly tomorrow, Josie,

but just now, as long as I know the violets

are coming out below Green Gables

and that little ferns are poking

their heads up in Lovers' Lane,

it's not a great deal of difference

whether I win the Avery or not.

I've done my best.

You've certainly done that.

Girls, don't talk about exams!

Hear, hear.

Picture your future selves instead.

Dearest, dearest Diana,

I have wonderful news.

The other Avonlea girls all passed.

Ruby is already obsessing over what

she'll wear to commencement.

Gilbert and I took the First-Class exam,

and our results will be out next week.

I am resolved to accept them,

whatever they may be.

I begin to understand what is meant

by the "joy of the strife."

Next to trying and winning,

the best thing is trying and failing.

The First-Class results are finally out.

Don't worry, Anne. Between the medal and

the Avery, you'll win one of them anyhow.

I wonder.

Everybody says Emily will win the Avery.

Never mind those rumors.

Promise me, Jane. If I have failed,

don't sympathize with me.

I implore you in the name

of our old friendship.

Oh, all right.

Hurrah, hurrah!

Hurrah for Gilbert!

Hurrah for Gilbert Blythe, medalist!

Thank you all.

Hurrah, hurrah!

Stay there, Anne. I'll go look.

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!

Oh, Matthew will be heartbroken.

He felt so sure I would win.

Three cheers for Anne Shirley,

winner of the Avery!

Hurrah for Anne Shirley!

Oh, Anne!

Oh, Anne, I'm so proud!

Avery Scholarship Winner

Anne Shirley

Isn't it splendid?!

Anne, Anne!

Oh, it's like a dream come true.

Won't Matthew and Marilla be pleased!

We have high hopes for your college career.

That girl won the Avery.

And I hear she wrote this year's best essay.

My. Isn't that something?

Reckon you're glad we kept her, Marilla?

It's not the first time I've been glad.

It's so good to be back again.

It's so good to see those pointed firs

coming out against the pink sky.

Isn't the breath of the mint delicious?

You've done splendidly, Anne.

I suppose you won't be teaching

now that you've won the Avery?

No. I'm going to Redmond in September.

After three glorious,

golden months of vacation.

And you say Jane and Ruby are going to teach?

The Newbridge trustees have offered

Jane their school already.

Gilbert Blythe is going to teach, too.

He has to.

His father can't afford to send

him to college next year, after all,

so he means to earn his own way through.

I expect he'll get the school here.

Oh.

I had expected Gilbert would be

going to Redmond with me.

Matthew?

Matthew?!

Marilla, is Matthew quite well?

No, he isn't, but he won't

spare himself a mite.

I've been real worried about him,

but he's some better this while back

and we've got Jerry to help him.

Maybe he'll pick up now you're home.

You always cheer him up.

You are not looking as well yourself

as I'd like to see you, Marilla.

I'm all right.

It's my head. I've a pain so

often now—behind my eyes.

That sounds awful.

There is a distinguished oculist coming to

the Island. I guess I'll have to see him.

Yes, you must!

Well, Anne, you've done real

well at Queen's, I must say.

To take First-Class license in one year

and win the Avery scholarship.

I couldn't have done it

without you and Matthew.

Mrs. Lynde says she doesn't believe

in the higher education of women at all.

I don't believe a word of it.

Speaking of Rachel reminds me—

she said the Abbey Bank was shaky.

Did you hear anything, Anne?

No, why?

All we have saved is in

that bank—every penny.

Is it really?

Matthew said any bank with Mr. Abbey at the

head of it was good enough for anybody.

But listen to me, going on like this.

Aren't you taking a day with

Diana to stretch your wings?

Go off and play.

Yes. Thank you.

Matthew, I'll take one of those.

They're heavy.

How do you feel?

Oh, well enough.

You've been working too hard.

You have Jerry. Why won't

you take things easier?

Well now, I can't seem to.

It's only that I'm getting old,

Anne, and keep forgetting it.

Well, well, I've always worked pretty

hard and I'd rather drop in harness.

If I had been the boy you sent for,

I'd be able to help you so much

now and spare you in a hundred ways.

Well now, I'd rather have

you than a dozen boys, Anne.

I guess it wasn't a boy that took

the Avery scholarship, was it?

It was a girl.

My girl that I'm proud of.

It was the last night before

sorrow touched my life.

My girl that I'm proud of.

And no life is ever quite the same again

when once that cold, sanctifying

touch has been laid upon it.

Next Time

I Don't Know What Lies

Around the Bend, but I'm

Going to Believe That the

Best Does