had been badly frightened when she was little and had never got over it.
She would much rather have walked with Joe than with Carl, with whom she
did not feel in the least at home. Yet it was something of an honour,
too, to have a college boy beside her, and a son of the manse at that.

Shirley Blythe was with Una Meredith and both were rather silent because
such was their nature. Shirley was a lad of sixteen, sedate, sensible,
thoughtful, full of a quiet humour. He was Susan's "little brown boy"
yet, with his brown hair, brown eyes, and clear brown skin. He liked to
walk with Una Meredith because she never tried to make him talk or
badgered him with chatter. Una was as sweet and shy as she had been in
the Rainbow Valley days, and her large, dark-blue eyes were as dreamy
and wistful. She had a secret, carefully-hidden fancy for Walter Blythe
that nobody but Rilla ever suspected. Rilla sympathized with it and
wished Walter would return it. She liked Una better than Faith, whose
beauty and aplomb rather overshadowed other girls--and Rilla did not
enjoy being overshadowed.

But just now she was very happy. It was so delightful to be tripping
with her friends down that dark, gleaming road sprinkled with its little
spruces and firs, whose balsam made all the air resinous around them.
Meadows of sunset afterlight were behind the westerning hills. Before
them was the shining harbour. A bell was ringing in the little church
over-harbour and the lingering dream-notes died around the dim,
amethystine points. The gulf beyond was still silvery blue in the
afterlight. Oh, it was all glorious--the clear air with its salt tang,
the balsam of the firs, the laughter of her friends. Rilla loved life--
its bloom and brilliance; she loved the ripple of music, the hum of
merry conversation; she wanted to walk on forever over this road of
silver and shadow. It was her first party and she was going to have a