Chapter V. Anne’s History

           Doyouknow,”saidAnneconfidentially,“I’vemadeupmymindtoenjoythisdrive.It’sbeenmyexperiencethatyoucannearlyalwaysenjoythingsifyoumakeupyourmindfirmlythatyouwill.Ofcourse,youmustmakeitupfirmly.Iamnotgoingtothinkaboutgoingbacktotheasylumwhilewe’rehavingourdrive.I’mjustgoingtothinkaboutthedrive.Oh,look,there’sonelittleearlywildroseout!Isn’titlovely?Don’tyouthinkitmustbegladtobearose?Wouldn’titbeniceifrosescouldtalk?I’msuretheycouldtellussuchlovelythings.Andisn’tpinkthemostbewitchingcolorintheworld?Iloveit,butIcan’twearit.Redheadedpeoplecan’twearpink,noteveninimagination.Didyoueverknowofanybodywhosehairwasredwhenshewasyoung,butgottobeanothercolorwhenshegrewup?”

           “No,Idon’tknowasIeverdid,”saidMarillamercilessly,“andIshouldn’tthinkitlikelytohappeninyourcaseeither.”

           Annesighed.

           “Well,thatisanotherhopegone.‘Mylifeisaperfectgraveyardofburiedhopes.’That’sasentenceIreadinabookonce,andIsayitovertocomfortmyselfwheneverI’mdisappointedinanything.”

           “Idon’tseewherethecomfortingcomesinmyself,”saidMarilla.

           “Why,becauseitsoundssoniceandromantic,justasifIwereaheroineinabook,youknow.Iamsofondofromanticthings,andagraveyardfullofburiedhopesisaboutasromanticathingasonecanimagineisn’tit?I’mrathergladIhaveone.