Anne leaves for Queen’s College in Charlottetown—but not before shedding many tears. Even Marilla cannot keep herself from crying. On the night before Anne is to depart, Anne tries on the new dress Marilla has made for her. It is the fanciest dress Anne has ever owned. Marilla surprised Anne by thinking that she might need a more elegant dress if she should be invited out for an evening affair. When Marilla sees Anne in the dress, she wonders where the little girl whom she raised has gone. Anne consoles Marilla by telling her that no matter how transformed she might look on the outside, inside she is still the little orphan girl who first appeared at her doorstep.

Anne’s thoughts turn to school as Matthew drives her to Charlottetown. She has decided to double up on her studies so she can earn her teacher’s certificate in one rather than two years. Later she finds out that Gilbert will be doing the same. On the first day of classes, when she sees Gilbert sitting across the room, she finds she feels comforted by his being there. He is the only person of the fifty or so students in that class whom she knows. His presence will help her study harder, Anne thinks; she senses that the competition between them still exists.

Although Aunt Josephine had offered to let Anne board at her house, Anne has declined the invitation. Aunt Josephine’s home is too far away from the school campus for Anne to conveniently make it to and from classes. So Aunt Josephine recommends another home close to the school. Anne admits that the landlady of this home is nice and respectable, but she still suffers from homesickness. She wonders how any home could replace Green Gables? Throughout the day, she finds herself thinking about Matthew’s schedule—wondering if he has already gone out to the fields or is milking the cows.

After the first day of classes, Anne is in her room in the middle of a crying spell when she hears a knock on her door. Standing there is Josie Pye. Anne did not get along very well with Josie back in Avonlea, but seeing a familiar face makes Anne feel as if Josie were a close friend. She invites Josie into her room as she tries to wipe away her tears. Josie tells Anne that crying is a waste of time and a demonstration of weakness. Josie is very happy to be out of Avonlea and away from her family. She wonders why it took her so long to leave.

Shortly after Josie’s arrival, Jane and Ruby, also from Avonlea, come to visit Anne. Their presence lifts Anne’s spirits. Her spirits are driven even higher when they tell her about a scholarship that would allow her a chance to earn not just a teacher’s certificate but a full degree at nearby Redmond College. This provides Anne with a greater goal than she had first considered. When Anne thinks about the possibilities, she imagines how proud Matthew would be if she were to earn a full bachelor’s degree.