White Sands youth were a rather `` fast '' set , and Gilbert was popular wherever he went . But he meant to keep himself worthy of Anne 's friendship and perhaps some distant day her love ; and he watched over word and thought and deed as jealously as if her clear eyes were to pass in judgment on it . She held over him the unconscious influence that every girl , whose ideals are high and pure , wields over her friends ; an influence which would endure as long as she was faithful to those ideals and which she would as certainly lose if she were ever false to them . In Gilbert 's eyes Anne 's greatest charm was the fact that she never stooped to the petty practices of so many of the Avonlea girls -- the small jealousies , the little deceits and rivalries , the palpable bids for favor . Anne held herself apart from all this , not consciously or of design , but simply because anything of the sort was utterly foreign to her transparent , impulsive nature , crystal clear in its motives and aspirations . But Gilbert did not attempt to put his thoughts into words , for he had already too good reason to know that Anne would mercilessly and frostily nip all attempts at sentiment in the bud -- or laugh at him , which was ten times worse . `` You look like a real dryad under that birch tree , '' he said teasingly . `` I love birch trees , '' said Anne , laying her cheek against the creamy satin of the slim bole , with one of the pretty , caressing gestures that came so natural to her . `` Then you 'll be glad to hear that Mr. Major Spencer has decided to set out a row of white birches all along the road front of his farm , by way of encouraging the A.V.I.S. , '' said Gilbert . `` He was talking to me about it today . Major Spencer is the most progressive and public-spirited man in Avonlea . And Mr. William Bell is going to set out a spruce hedge along his road front and up his lane . Our Society is getting on splendidly , Anne . It is past the experimental stage and is an accepted fact . The older folks are beginning to take an interest in it and the White Sands people are talking of starting one too . Even Elisha Wright has come around since that day the Americans from the hotel had the picnic at the shore . They praised our roadsides so highly and said they were so much prettier than in any other part of the Island . And when , in due time , the other farmers follow Mr. Spencer 's good example and plant ornamental trees and hedges along their road fronts Avonlea will be the prettiest settlement in the province . '' `` The Aids are talking of taking up the graveyard , '' said Anne , `` and I hope they will , because there will have to be a subscription for that , and it would be no use for the Society to try it after the hall affair . But the Aids would never have stirred in the matter if the Society had n't put it into their thoughts unofficially .
Those XXXXX we planted on the church grounds are flourishing , and the trustees have promised me that they will fence in the school grounds next year .
Island charm deed eyes hotel judgment man part practices trees