Hello again. Sorry for any confusion in the previous chapter. To clarify Nate Rawley married Lottie Dixon for the parcel of land only, which I first mentioned in chapter VI of Redmond Diaries -the first year. As to who is Nettie's babydaddy -we'll just have to wait and see if the child's ears stick out or not ;o) But before that here's a little bit of fun before we say goodbye to dear Ruby...
With love and gratitude to L.M.M. & to AlinyaAlethia for her generous help with the music in all these parties :o)
... ... ...
CHAPTER XIII -The Way of Transgressors
12th July, White Lily Lodge, Avonlea
The Life and Times of Ruby Rose Gillis, chapter 1,978
So unfair!
Why should Papa punish me for the foolish way my sisters behaved? Now they've all been married off my father is suddenly wary of my reputation and rarely allows me to leave the house. It was bad enough he decided I should postpone my return to teaching until the New Year, but now I am not even allowed to go out! Folks will begin to think I don't care a stitch for frolics and flirting and then my reputation really will be ruined. No one will ever want to marry me. I shall become Jane Andrews!
Anne thinks this could all be solved if I simply make it known that I won't be attending the Penhallows' party. But I just couldn't do that to poor Alice! Half the fellows she invited would never turn up if they knew I wouldn't be there. Then again I have grown exceedingly fond of Herb, so much so that I scarcely care about being kept at home so long as he keeps calling. But there is to be an especially thrilling addition tonight and I shall just hate to miss it. Gilbert Blythe's cousin has come from New Brunswick to stay at Allwinds for a month and no one can talk of anything else.
He's supposed to be awfully handsome and every chum who visits me seems to think he is in love with her. Apparently he is the most terrible flirt and teases the girls without mercy. Of course, I know very well he won't mean it, he'll just be passing the time. Besides Anne, Diana and myself there really isn't a girl in Avonlea worth falling in love with. And as Diana is engaged and Anne detests the flirting type I imagine this Mr Blythe is simply bored. Oh, to see his face if I should walk into the Penhallows' parlour, then we'll see who falls in love with whom.
But Papa is resolute. I am not allowed to go, even though I was very good last night and hardly coughed at all. It isn't fair, it isn't fair at all!
… … …
July 12, The Palisades, Avonlea
Just when I thought this summer couldn't be improved upon -what with Ruby an invalid, Gertie battling hives, and Monty Dander breaking off his engagement to that Mainlander- it seems Providence is about to bless me with yet more good fortune. Well, all I can say is about time!
Tonight I was properly introduced to Gilbert's cousin. I couldn't manage it before as Gil had become so used to my snubs that even if I stood squarely in front of him he would pretend not to see me and continue past without breaking his stride. When I finally cornered him at Alice's party he had the gall to inquire after my eyesight, as he was under the wrongful impression that I must be going blind.
In any case, Josie, he said, allow me to assure you that you are not seeing double, this fellow is my cousin, Laird.
Double? The two of them are nothing alike! Though they might share the same broad smiles and broad shoulders that is where the similarities end. To begin with Laird has some knowledge of how to charm a girl, for the very first thing he said to me was:
I see you have succeeded in getting under Gil's skin if he is pretending to find fault with you, for you haven't a one as far as I can see.
Then he gave me the wickedest wink! This would happen on the one occasion where Anne Shirley wasn't hanging off Gilbert's arm. But in that moment I hardly cared for the next thing I knew I was being begged for a dance.
He is the son of John Blythe's younger brother. Of course, it would be my luck that he is not the eldest son but he is certainly a fine dancer. I can barely express the relief I felt. After all the time and money we have spent on instructors, to be lead by someone who knows what he is doing instead of being trod on by oafs. He is familiar with all the steps we dance in Avonlea and far more besides. The coming thing now is the Mazurka, all N.B. is in a craze for them. Unfortunately all of Avonlea is in a craze for Laird, but like a true gentleman he made sure to give a dance to every girl, no matter how insignificant. Later he asked if I would bring him a glass of punch and in exchange he would share some scandalous tales about Gilbert. But no sooner had he emptied his cup when Alice began flaunting herself in front of him and he was forced to ask her to dance again.
Well, I may have only enjoyed one brief moment in his arms but Anne Shirley wasn't even given that! Apparently she spent the entire evening consoling Diana on the back porch after she and Fred had a disagreement. I'm not the least interested in discovering what they quarreled over, it's certain to be boring and pointless. I happened to share a ride with them after prayer meeting on Thursday and the two of them talked about fruit cake recipes the entire time. The Barrys make theirs with whole almonds but Fred's grandmother has wooden dentures and can't chew them properly. They about drove me mad with their tedious to-ing and fro-ing:
What about halves, Fred-Fred?
Not even halves, Di-Di?
What about slivers, Fred-Fred?
Not even slivers, Di-Di.
As I leaped from the buggy I told them I hoped they both choked on their miserable cake, only to hear that imbecile Fred say, You see Di-Di, even Josie thinks we shouldn't have nuts.
I shouldn't be surprised if they were still arguing over it tonight. But they must have come to some agreement because they both emerged from the Penhallows' garden with the most sheepheaded looks on their faces just in time for the last dance. Which is when Anne decided to show up as well. Being the gentleman Laird was quick to ask her to dance. But he can't have been very insistent because I soon spied her at the refreshment table piling her plate high with whatever was left and gossiping with Alice. So I let Laird know I was willing to take Anne's place, but he said he felt it was unfair to show favourites and dance with a girl more than once -unless she was the host of course- no matter how much he wanted to.
If only his cousin was as well mannered. But whenever Anne is about Gilbert Blythe behaves as though everyone else is invisible! I had to tell him twice to get me a plate of peach puffs before Anne scoffed the lot. He took such a time about it Laird felt compelled to see what had held him up, and was still being monopolised by both of them when the carriage arrived to take me home.
Well, I am determined that the Pyes will be throwing the next party, something out of doors so that we may enjoy some real dancing. Then I shall be the hostess and Laird Blythe will be free to lavish his full attention upon me!
… … …
Saturday July 19th, Orchard Slope, Avonlea
Dear Journalette,
Say what you like about Josie Pye, none but the meanest of hearts would deny her talent for stylish parties. I have so many ideas for my wedding. Josie had strings of paper lanterns in a square marking out the dance floor in their garden. They were peculiar colours, green and blue, which cast a rather strange hue ~Anne said she was sure the Pyes did it on purpose in order to make her hair look an ugly, brackish colour. Well, I don't know about that but my Fred looked wonderful! Under the green light he didn't look red at all. I believe I shall look into the green glass lamps for our bedside tables.
Josie also invited Mr Sadler! At first I was astonished to see him there, he is always so cantankerous. Anne is the only one who has ever been able to draw so much as a smile from him. Would you believe that beneath his grumpy demeaner beats the heart of an honest to goodness musician. He brought along his fiddle and his accordion and played the most wonderful music from the Old Country. At first no one knew what to do. There is never enough space in our parlours for everyone to dance a Mazurka, Josie and Gertie are the only ones I know who bothered to learn it properly. Josie was eager to perform a demonstration because ~by design or not~ Laird Blythe was the only fellow who knew all the steps. But he insisted on giving all the girls lessons, and then all the boys were coaxed into learning it too. Soon we were laughing and skipping and leaping and counting ~it was the best fun, but so exhausting. Each dance takes nearly thirty minutes!
Soon enough Anne disappeared indoors. I knew exactly where she was heading ~to the Pyes piano. She is always looking to play, but Mama won't go to the expense of having ours tuned now that I have given up my lessons. Anne decided to try her hand at it in Kingsport, isn't that darling! She has lessons with a Junior named Sebastian Miles who studies music at Redmond. It was so restful to hear her quiet tinkling after all the rowdiness outside. I have decided to ask Papa to have our piano tuned in time for my big day. I think it will be just the thing to entertain the older members of the Barry and Wright clans while we young ones enjoy ourselves in the garden. Of course, I won't expect Anne to play, not when she's to be my Maid of Honour ~which is fortunate really as she isn't particularly talented. Not that I would ever say so, Journalette, she is quite undone by the second rejection slip from 'Canadian Woman' and I am still at a loss as to how I can cheer her again.
She was picking out a Mazurka with one hand when I found her, one of those simple pieces that Russian composer with the impossible name writes for children. I wasn't the least bit of help to her, Mrs Lawson only knew how to teach good Christian songs. But then Gilbert budged her along and they attempted to muddle out the tune together. I forgot Gil could play piano, the Blythes sold theirs when he went with his papa to Alberta. But he sometimes accompanied us during concert rehersal while Miss Stacey conducted the choir. The Mazurka defeated him too. But I think the sentimental tunes he could play were even lovelier, as did my Fred. He asked if Gil remembered 'Believe me, if all those endearing young charms', I suppose because we are still undecided on what song we shall dance to at the wedding breakfast. The words are so sweet, and even though Fred could never say it himself I just know it expresses exactly how he feels about me.
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms
Which I gaze on so fondly today
Were to change by tomorrow and fleet in my arms
Like fairy gifts fading away
Thou wouldst still be adored as this moment thou art
Let thy loveliness fade as it will
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still
Isn't that glorious, Journalette? Though I am sure I have forgotten some of the words, because when Gil sang it seemed much longer. He really has a nice voice ~I remember Mama saying John Blythe was a fine singer in his day. Still I can't say in all honesty he makes for much of a teacher because when he showed the chords to Anne she mangled every bar. I never suspected she was such a butter fingers. They had only just come to 'thou wouldst still be adored...' when Gil's cousin bowled into the room and leaned over Anne's shoulder and began to instruct her on one of Chopin's Mazurkas. Well, Anne made an even worse job of that. I'm just sure she played the wrong notes on purpose, and the more Laird teased her the worse she became.
Everyone's in such a pashion for Laird Blythe. I like him myself, though I shouldn't like him to be always living in Avonlea. I was talking about it with Fred as he walked me home. We had Robert with us so we had to keep up some conversation ~had we been alone there would have been no time for talk! And I said to my darling that I couldn't say why exactly, when Laird seemed the very image of Gil in looks, in voice, in manner, why I didn't warm to him the same way. And do you know what Fred said? That Laird is what Gilbert would have become if Anne Shirley hadn't come along and knocked just the right amount of humbleness into him.
I never knew he could be so wise. Perhaps he is right about the almonds after all.
… … …
'Believe me, if all those endearing young charms' was written by Irish poet, Thomas Moore, in 1808. It is said that Moore wrote it for his beloved wife who became so disfigured with smallpox she refused to let anyone, including her husband, see her.
Thank you so much for all your reviews, there's nothing I love more than going back over what I have written and seeing the story through your eyes. And if you are now wondering whether I read over my chapters and pretend to be edkchestnut or wishwars or dianastorm, well yes I do! I hope this next chapter comes more quickly, I have been thinking about Ruby's death for a while and always felt it must have affected Gilbert as much as Anne.