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"It was splendid," Anne related to Marilla later on. "I never
imagined anything so interesting. I don't really know which
department was the most interesting. I think I liked the horses
and the flowers and the fancywork best. Josie Pye took first
prize for knitted lace. I was real glad she did. And I was glad
that I felt glad, for it shows I'm improving, don't you think,
Marilla, when I can rejoice in Josie's success? Mr. Harmon
Andrews took second prize for Gravenstein apples and Mr. Bell
took first prize for a pig. Diana said she thought it was
ridiculous for a Sunday-school superintendent to take a prize in
pigs, but I don't see why. Do you? She said she would always
think of it after this when he was praying so solemnly. Clara
Louise MacPherson took a prize for painting, and Mrs. Lynde got
first prize for homemade butter and cheese. So Avonlea was
pretty well represented, wasn't it? Mrs. Lynde was there that
day, and I never knew how much I really liked her until I saw her
familiar face among all those strangers. There were thousands of
people there, Marilla. It made me feel dreadfully insignificant.
And Miss Barry took us up to the grandstand to see the horse
races. Mrs. Lynde wouldn't go; she said horse racing was an
abomination and, she being a church member, thought it her
bounden duty to set a good example by staying away. But there
were so many there I don't believe Mrs. Lynde's absence would
ever be noticed. I don't think, though, that I ought to go very
often to horse races, because they ARE awfully fascinating.
Diana got so excited that she offered to bet me ten cents that
the red horse would win. I didn't believe he would, but I
refused to bet, because I wanted to tell Mrs. Allan all about
everything, and I felt sure it wouldn't do to tell her that.
It's always wrong to do anything you can't tell the minister's
wife. It's as good as an extra conscience to have a minister's
wife for your friend. And I was very glad I didn't bet, because
the red horse DID win, and I would have lost ten cents. So you
see that virtue was its own reward. We saw a man go up in a
balloon. I'd love to go up in a balloon, Marilla; it would be
simply thrilling; and we saw a man selling fortunes. You paid
him ten cents and a little bird picked out your fortune for you.
Miss Barry gave Diana and me ten cents each to have our fortunes
told. Mine was that I would marry a dark-complected man who was
very wealthy, and I would go across water to live. I looked
carefully at all the dark men I saw after that, but I didn't care
much for any of them, and anyhow I suppose it's too early to be
looking out for him yet. Oh, it was a never-to-be-forgotten day,
Marilla. I was so tired I couldn't sleep at night. Miss Barry
put us in the spare room, according to promise. It was an
elegant room, Marilla, but somehow sleeping in a spare room isn't
what I used to think it was. That's the worst of growing up, and
I'm beginning to realize it. The things you wanted so much when you
were a child don't seem half so wonderful to you when you get them."
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