Click.

Gilbert flinched at the sound of the door being opened and withdrew back into the cellar. His face was covered in cookie crumble- his father's illegal cookie crumbles, mind you- and listened to the two ladies descending down the steps.

"-never goes to to town this time of the year, and he wasn't going fast enough to be fetching for a doctor," an elderly lady said. Gilbert recognized the belonger of the statement to be Mrs. Rachel Lynde. If the voice hadn't given it away, the haughty tone would have done it. Gilbert considered his mother to be reasonably kind, and she listened to Rachel's gossip all the time. His reasoning was if his mother had no problems with it, Gilbert could certainly listen to the news. (This was just his excuse for eavesdropping in on his neighbors.)

"So I ran over to Marilla's today to ask her what his business was. Then she informed me in a far too calm voice that she and Matthew had decided to adopt a little orphan boy to help out with the chores. Have you ever heard of the like? I told her I wished she had consulted me first, but she was adamant in her decision. So I marched off. I knew they'd regret it first night that boy came."

"So?" Gilbert's mother sounded like she was being kept in suspense." Did they get the boy? I wouldn't mind taking in an orphan, but a child I've never met? Not me!"

"Today I went over to Green Gales to see if I could welcome the child. I found out they got an orphan, but by some unfortunate mistake, it certainly isn't any boy!" She waited for Lauren's startled gasp, and it came. "First time I saw the child I spoke my mind on what I saw. You know how I am. Obviously the child- Anne's her name- cares far to much for her looks. I told her her hair was as red as carrots, and she just flew at me in such a rage! She said I was fat and ugly and an old gossip!"

Gilbert had to desperately stifle a laugh. This Anne was right-on (though of course he'd never say that to his mother).

"So of course they'll send her back, right?"

"No! Marilla said she'd put it on trial- knowing Marilla I'd say Anne's temper will get the best of her. Well, that was before, anyways. Right after Anne ran out after saying such vulgar things, Marilla turned right around and defended her temper, saying I had no right to twit her about her looks."

"Say, Rachel, I can't seem to find those peaches. Maybe they're on the other side." Lauren said.

Gilbert turned his head and stifled a groan. Right next to him at eye level sat seven shining glass jars of spiced peaches. He shrank down a little farther.

"Well, I intend on boycotting my trips to Green Gables until I've heard an apology." Rachel smoothed out her skirt pompously. "I won't be treated in such a fashion!"

From what Gilbert had overheard, Anne sounded pretty stubborn. All the girls he had known would, in Anne's predicament, buckle under the pressure and cry. Anne sounded different. She could probably keep a grudge for a long time.

Little did Gilbert know how long.