Chapter 7 - Excel Aunt

Gilbert Blythe, ever the swoon worthy and well humored hero, hurried Chastity Lovell into his home and then into his kitchen chair. Once freed of his load, he gave the fair maiden a small smile paired with a twinkling eye. She had really lived up to her end of the deal, but had it worked?

He paced a short distance to the west window and withdrew the white ruffled curtain to see the barn. Anne was staring daggers in his direction.

Ah-ha! It had worked!

If not for the house protecting him, Gilbert might have burst into flames, Anne's glare was that intense. A satisfying thrill washed over him.

"I take it you winked? Like I asked you to?"

"Of course I did!" Chastity wrinkled her nose when he looked. "I told you I would help!"

Gilbert felt uncomfortable as Chastity shifted. His breath hitched in alarm. "What are you doing?" Gilbert's voice awkwardly cracked in an embarrassing, adolescent way.

Chastity was no prude. She didn't think twice about lifting her skirts to access her twisted foot, even if Gilbert blushed to see her black-stockinged knees.

"It was ever so much fun to tease Anne at Hopetown as Anne has a jealous streak wider than the St. Lawrence River. She likes you, I'm sure of it, and she's all yours as far as I'm concerned." She pulled off her shoe and massaged her ankle.

Gilbert's smile now stretched into his ears and he took another gander outside.

His dad and Mr Lynde had found Anne and she looked uncomfortable speaking with the pair. The two men glanced in the direction of the house following Anne's pointed finger.


Meanwhile…

"Oh, Mrs. Barry," Mrs. Pye always delighted to visit Orchard Slope for tea on Tuesdays. Mrs. Barry had the most spacious veranda in which to recline. "I'm so glad you understand. I've debated about saying something to Mrs. Harmon or Mrs. Gillis, but I first wanted to see if what I'm thinking strikes a chord with you."

Mrs. Barry of course agreed with her longtime acquaintance on this matter. They were both mothers of growing girls. Girls that were quickly turning into young ladies.

"There are hardly any boys in Diana's class as it is," Mrs. Barry sipped her raspberry cordial. It was the finest on the island in her opinion. "It's always been unbalanced, and now there are two new girls, Anne and Chastity. They're attracting the boys for the wrong reasons. Worldly ones..."

"I knew you'd feel as I do. It's all well and good now, but later, when our girls are old enough to marry…" Mrs. Pye tried to deliver the next line so to pull at Mrs. Barry's heartstrings. "Well, I would hate for my girls to have to leave home to find a husband. The boys we have here are good stock through and through, but someone's going to be left without."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Eliminate this competition."