You suggest I deliver, Chicken Whisper.
Charlottetown
PEI
August 25
Dear Marilla
What a delightful young man your Joe is. I have enjoyed having him to stay. I am so happy I was able to 'rescue' him from dusty Avonlea during the harvest. He has told me in some detail of his difficulties last year. It sounded positively ghastly, poor lad. This is certainly the better alternative. I propose we make this an annual occurrence.
Now, I hope you do not take this the wrong way Marilla, but whilst he has been here I have taken the liberty of procuring music lessons for young Joe. M. Archet comes highly recommended. Don't make a fuss Marilla dear, it was my pleasure to give Joe these lessons, I have plenty of money and M. Archet says Joe has a real gift for music.
Marilla, I would like to invite you, Matthew and Anne here to my house in Charlottetown. You can come for a few days and take Joe home with you. I do hope you can take the time to come visit, I feel it has been too long since we had a good catch up.
With fondest regards
Josephine Barry
*.*.*
Green Gables
Avonlea
26 August
Dear Josephine
Thank you for your very kind offer. We are delighted to accept. We will arrive on the 2.00 o'clock train on 28 August.
Yours very truly
Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert
*.*.*
Charlottetown
PEI
August 31
Dearest Diana
How strange it feels to be staying with Miss Barry in her magnificent mansion without you here to share it with me. I do hope you aren't too too jealous. I have the right hand bedroom and Joe is well ensconced in the left hand one. Matthew and Marilla have rooms down the hall.
I know you are used to it Diana dearest, but it is very strange and delightful for Joe and I to be waited upon. If you had told me two years ago that I would have my dinner served by a servant from a silver salver, I would have laughed in your face. It is as though Princess Cordelia has come to life, this could only occur in my wildest imaginings.
Last night our meal included spitched eel, a delicacy I admit I had not dreamed of prior, let alone eaten. May I say despite my initial misgivings, it is delicious. I found it tasted better if I closed my eyes before I ate it, the green flaky skin is not beautiful, but the flesh is very tasty.
When you write to Miss Barry yourself, please tell her how grateful the Cuthbert family are for this glimpse of another world. It will sustain my daydreams henceforth.
Your bosom friend and kindred spirit
Anne
*.*.*
Charlottetown
PEI
1 September
Dear Rachel
I admit I cannot quite believe the events of the last few days. Having received Josephine Barry's invitation, Matthew was at first unsure that he could leave the stock, but young Gilbert Blythe has agreed to look after them whilst we are gone from Green Gables. We packed our bags and made our way to Josephine's mansion in Charlottetown and what a house it is. I am a simple country girl at heart, as you know Rachel, but even my heart soared at the sight.
Josephine and I have enjoyed many chats whilst we have been here. She is well read and has given me some lovely novel suggestions. She is so sweet with the children. Being their mother, I feel as though I have to be stern, always pointing them in the moral direction, Josephine has no such hindrances. Which is not to say that she is in any way immoral, more that she can enjoy their company without impediment.
She has very generously paid for music lessons for young Joe, I think they have an affinity, maybe it's because they share a name. In any case he has played for us on a couple of occasions and I must say his musical prowess has certainly improved. Ben Trickleback will be impressed I am sure. I do not know if Joe wishes to take his music further at this stage, but it is something to keep in the back of our minds.
With best wishes
Marilla
*.*.*
Charlottetown
PEI
1 September
Dearest Diana
My darling I must tell you about our magnificent afternoon just gone. Poor Marilla was not feeling well, a slight headache* she said. We all know of her affliction and did not press her to join us on our outing, instead I kissed her farewell as she lay in her darkened bedroom. She said she was sorry to miss out on our expected adventures, but she felt sure I would tell her all about it when I returned. But first, I will tell you my dearest, as Marilla is still asleep.
Have you ever seen a Magic Lantern Show? I am sure a girl of your sophistication has, but I assure you it was an eye opening experience for the three of us. To be honest, I am not sure that Marilla would have approved, but Matthew is not so stern and was himself quite curious.
In this case it was a Phantasmagoria show. It was held in a old theatre. We walked in and were greeted by dark passages decorated with mysterious pictures. Walking skeletons lead us to a catacomb lit by a single lamp. We sat facing a screen. After a brief description by the showman the lamp went out while thunder roared, lightning flashed and church bells tolled. I admit I clutched Matthew and Joe's hands rather tightly while all around me I could hear women screaming. A tiny figure, half human, half demon appeared in the air, all shimmering and ghostly. I couldn't bear to watch and I couldn't bear to not watch, if you get my drift Diana. The figure seemed to approach gradually, growing larger and larger until suddenly it disappeared with a wail. Bats fluttered on the walls, ghosts and goblins groaned, and it appeared as though skeletons came hurtling towards us. I gasped and I believe some women fainted.
It made our old haunted valley seem quite tame by comparison, I can assure you Diana. Afterwards we walked out into the bright sunlight and looked at each other in amazement. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it. Matthew declared that we needed a treat afterwards and took us out for a calming iced treat.
I will tell Marilla about some of it when she awakens, but I'm not sure which bits.
Your kindred spirit, no strike that after the events of today I will remain, your bosom chum,
Anne
*.*.*
Green Gables
Avonlea
7 September
Dear Miss Barry
I'm not even sure if I can put my gratitude into words. My time with you was like a dream. Your kindness knows no bounds and I will certainly take you up on your offer next year. I must admit when I compare my experiences of the last two years, escaping the harvest to stay with you is infinitely the preferable option. Partly because I like to breathe, but in equal measure is the inestimable joy I feel in your excellent company Miss Barry. Perhaps that is presumptuous of me to express, but it is certainly true.
It was good to get back to Green Gables. As much as I love Charlottetown, I do enjoy the countryside too, at least when the harvest is not in full swing. We have reunited with our school mates and are readying ourselves for a new school year. A new teacher has been appointed and we all very excited to make her acquaintance. Yes, we are to have a woman teacher, I think for the first time in Avonlea. The Ladies Aid are quite shocked. I am sure I can picture your smile Miss Barry, you are far more progressive than they.
Please inform M. Archet that I am continuing my music practice and I'm booked to play for the next six weekends at dances all over the Island.
I remain
Yours truly
Joe Franklin
* Was it a headache or was Marilla feigning one in favour of afternoon delights with Josephine Barry? There is more to these buttoned up Victorians than we give them credit for. I will leave it up to your imagination, dear reader.