As Anne is driving in the cattle one evening, Diana meets her at the gate to reveal that Aunt Josephine has invited the two of them to go to town and attend the Exhibition with her next week. Anne, breathless with excitement, believes that Marilla will tell her no, but Marilla agrees. Matthew continues spoiling Anne by buying her new dresses and insists that she have a new winter coat, and Marilla takes it upon herself to sew it, so he no longer has to go to Mrs. Rachel. Therefore, Anne’s wardrobe is prepared for this momentous occasion.

Aunt Josephine is thrilled to see her “Anne-girl” again, and she welcomes the girls into a house unlike any Anne has seen before. However, Anne sees “no scope for imagination” (280) in a home of such splendor and tells Marilla so. At the Exhibition, the girls and Aunt Josephine go to an animal auction, the horse races, and a fortune teller, but the most thrilling event is the concert at the Academy of Music where a famous prima donna is singing. Anne, starry-eyed by all she has seen, cannot thank Aunt Josephine enough when the adventure has ended. For her part, Aunt Josephine thinks that Anne is the most marvelous young woman she has ever met, even though she initially “thought