Una walked silently next to Shirley. She wasn't sure why she was going. It
was most certainly not for the dancing. As a minister's daughter it would
be unseemly for her to dance. Not that it mattered, for who would ask her
to dance. Perhaps Jerry or Carl would take pity on her. After all they were
her brothers, and it was their duty. And maybe she would get a dance with
Jem or Walter. But they would only dance with her to please Faith. In fact,
Una thought despondently, it was good her father was a minister. At least
she had an in excuse for not dancing. At least she could pretend that the
reason no one asked her to dance was because of her father, not because she
was plain, boring, and unattractive.
To watch Walter moon over Faith was more than she could bear. Una was sure that if she had a flair for the dramatic, she would sigh tragically. But she was neither tragic nor dramatic. She simply was. Faith had begged her to come, fearing she would not be able to go if Una did not. She could hardly say no, if she wished to avoid a row with Faith. Una hated the way her heart twisted when she saw Faith with the Blythe brothers. It was wrong to feel such jealousy for her sister. But she could not help herself. She was not the perfectly kind, obedient daughter everyone thought she was. She could not help but wish that she was the golden girl. That she was Faith. People forgave her everything. All Faith had to do was smile, twinkle and sparkle, and everyone loved her. How she longed to break free from her mould as the dutiful daughter, But as much as she desired it, she did not know where to begin. That, she thought, was rather ridiculous and terribly ironic.
She wondered if Shirley felt as she did - overshadowed. He never seemed unhappy. Certainly he never complained, but then one could never accuse him of being loquacious. She wondered if that was because of his brothers. With the clever, charming, and handsome Jem and Walter as brothers she would not wonder if he felt inferior and unimportant. She knew the feeling all to well. But Shirley, he seemed to be at peace with himself. And if he could manage, could she not?
"It really is a beautiful night," she reflected. The stars were out and she could see the Harbor lights beckoning her. The day's warmth had lingered into the night. It was like a blanket enveloping her, soothing, like a mother's touch. The crickets were out as well. She could hear their melodies. It was strange to think, that such ugly creatures could make such beautiful music. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And perhaps, it was a lesson to look deeper. To judge not on the basis of appearance, but on one's soul. The fireflies were twinkling in the woods. She could catch glimpses of them as the flitted between the trees. It was most certainly a night for lovers she thought, as she watched Faith and Jem, Nan and Jerry, and Carl and Miranda. She wondered what Walter thought. Wondered of how he would speak of a night like tonight. No one, she thought, could speak as beautifully as he could. His words, she thought, sounded almost like songs. And silly as she thought herself in her love for Walter, she knew she was not alone. But what was he thinking with his head bent next to Di? Was he watching Faith out of the corner of his eye?
Una glanced behind her and saw Rilla. She looked so young and fresh in her green gown with flowers in her hair. Una wondered if she had ever looked as carefree and alive as Rilla did. She was certain she had never felt so. Rilla, Una considered, for all people said, was not unintelligent. Though she was not clever in the way Di was, she understood people. Rilla could empathize. Una was sure Rilla knew of her feelings for Walter. Rilla had almost told her as much. She disapproved of Walter's infatuation with Faith. And was most emphatic on the point that it was infatuation and not love. But the blessing of the sister meant little without the love of the brother.
Rilla though caught up in the excitement of her first dance, was not oblivious to those around her. She wondered at Carl and Miranda. Surely Carl could not care for such a whey-faced girl. Rilla checked herself; it would not do for her to think so about others. Still she had plans to be the belle of the ball, and was glad to see Miranda Pryor would provide no competition. Faith, Rilla thought dispassionately, was pretty. And she had heard many say that Faith was the most beautiful girl in the Glen. But she would prove them wrong tonight. Had not Walter called her the most beautiful vision he had seen? Rilla disliked Faith. Disliked her strongly. She hated the way she was able to monopolize everyone's attention and make her look like a child. She did not enjoy being overshadowed. Worse still was that Walter thought he was in love with Fait, who was to blind to see how wonderful Walter truly was. Perhaps, Rilla thought, if Faith spent less time trying to outshine everyone, she would not be so very blind. But really it was ridiculous for Walter to even think of Faith; Jem and Faith had eyes only for each other. And Faith was not the type of woman Walter needed. It was clear to her as well as Miss. Oliver. No there was no love lost between her and Faith, even though she would probably marry Jem. She only wondered what Walter would do, what he would think, when they officially announced their engagement. Men she thought were far too stupid. It seemed that only Shirley saw Una's true value. She wished she could make Walter see it too. For it was plain as day that Una loved him more than anything!
To watch Walter moon over Faith was more than she could bear. Una was sure that if she had a flair for the dramatic, she would sigh tragically. But she was neither tragic nor dramatic. She simply was. Faith had begged her to come, fearing she would not be able to go if Una did not. She could hardly say no, if she wished to avoid a row with Faith. Una hated the way her heart twisted when she saw Faith with the Blythe brothers. It was wrong to feel such jealousy for her sister. But she could not help herself. She was not the perfectly kind, obedient daughter everyone thought she was. She could not help but wish that she was the golden girl. That she was Faith. People forgave her everything. All Faith had to do was smile, twinkle and sparkle, and everyone loved her. How she longed to break free from her mould as the dutiful daughter, But as much as she desired it, she did not know where to begin. That, she thought, was rather ridiculous and terribly ironic.
She wondered if Shirley felt as she did - overshadowed. He never seemed unhappy. Certainly he never complained, but then one could never accuse him of being loquacious. She wondered if that was because of his brothers. With the clever, charming, and handsome Jem and Walter as brothers she would not wonder if he felt inferior and unimportant. She knew the feeling all to well. But Shirley, he seemed to be at peace with himself. And if he could manage, could she not?
"It really is a beautiful night," she reflected. The stars were out and she could see the Harbor lights beckoning her. The day's warmth had lingered into the night. It was like a blanket enveloping her, soothing, like a mother's touch. The crickets were out as well. She could hear their melodies. It was strange to think, that such ugly creatures could make such beautiful music. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And perhaps, it was a lesson to look deeper. To judge not on the basis of appearance, but on one's soul. The fireflies were twinkling in the woods. She could catch glimpses of them as the flitted between the trees. It was most certainly a night for lovers she thought, as she watched Faith and Jem, Nan and Jerry, and Carl and Miranda. She wondered what Walter thought. Wondered of how he would speak of a night like tonight. No one, she thought, could speak as beautifully as he could. His words, she thought, sounded almost like songs. And silly as she thought herself in her love for Walter, she knew she was not alone. But what was he thinking with his head bent next to Di? Was he watching Faith out of the corner of his eye?
Una glanced behind her and saw Rilla. She looked so young and fresh in her green gown with flowers in her hair. Una wondered if she had ever looked as carefree and alive as Rilla did. She was certain she had never felt so. Rilla, Una considered, for all people said, was not unintelligent. Though she was not clever in the way Di was, she understood people. Rilla could empathize. Una was sure Rilla knew of her feelings for Walter. Rilla had almost told her as much. She disapproved of Walter's infatuation with Faith. And was most emphatic on the point that it was infatuation and not love. But the blessing of the sister meant little without the love of the brother.
Rilla though caught up in the excitement of her first dance, was not oblivious to those around her. She wondered at Carl and Miranda. Surely Carl could not care for such a whey-faced girl. Rilla checked herself; it would not do for her to think so about others. Still she had plans to be the belle of the ball, and was glad to see Miranda Pryor would provide no competition. Faith, Rilla thought dispassionately, was pretty. And she had heard many say that Faith was the most beautiful girl in the Glen. But she would prove them wrong tonight. Had not Walter called her the most beautiful vision he had seen? Rilla disliked Faith. Disliked her strongly. She hated the way she was able to monopolize everyone's attention and make her look like a child. She did not enjoy being overshadowed. Worse still was that Walter thought he was in love with Fait, who was to blind to see how wonderful Walter truly was. Perhaps, Rilla thought, if Faith spent less time trying to outshine everyone, she would not be so very blind. But really it was ridiculous for Walter to even think of Faith; Jem and Faith had eyes only for each other. And Faith was not the type of woman Walter needed. It was clear to her as well as Miss. Oliver. No there was no love lost between her and Faith, even though she would probably marry Jem. She only wondered what Walter would do, what he would think, when they officially announced their engagement. Men she thought were far too stupid. It seemed that only Shirley saw Una's true value. She wished she could make Walter see it too. For it was plain as day that Una loved him more than anything!