Dear Anne,
I know it's been a case of 'long time no see', but I do hope you don't mind me writing to you we were after all such good chums for a good while before I was carted off to that finishing school (which finished me no further than anything else).
My point in writing anyway is that my mother has written to yours and found we are to be studying at Redmond together! The same class and everything... my papa my dear duck wants me to have an education and if I stay here I must marry but I came not decide between all the boys running after me so I hope some education may give me some clarification if I happen to find a suitable beau (Tall dark handsome and scandalously rich) then so be it! I've also heard you found yourself a beau with tons of brains! Do tell more Anne...
I hope we shall meet Anne and have a good old giggle as we used to.
Love
Philippa Gordon.
Dear Phil,
How extraordinary our paths shall meet again! Us from little Bolingbroke! In all the wide world ending up going to Redmond together! We shall have such a good time and you'll get to meet some of the friends I have made since coming to the Island for two of my chums from Queens Acedemy. Stella and Pricilla we shall have such a merry time!
I know it's been such a long time... well three years to be exact since I left Bolingbroke... but I'm sure we'll still get along famously!
As for Gilbert you'll get to meet him yourself and you can judge for yourself, he's in his third year at Redmond he's specialising in science, and soon Philippa we'll see each other again.
Love
Anne Shirley
"Roy?" Anne asked surprised as she walked into town and saw Gilbert's roommate in the midst of the town.
"Anne Shirley!" he exclaimed looking at her. "Why it must be providence itself to meet you here!"
"Yes it must be!" she laughed. She looked beside her to her father who looked confused "Oh papa this is royal Gardner he boards with Gilbert at Redmond. Roy this is my father."
"pleased to meet your acquaintance sir." He said with a smile.
Walter didn't know why his defences were up with the boy already... There was something about the way he looked at Anne. He shook his head he was being silly surely.. Anne knew this boy through Gilbert. Surely if there was a problem with him Gilbert would know.
"what are you doing here?" Anne asked him.
"Well you and Gilbert give such high praise to your little island I thought I'd tour it a few days."
Anne laughed "Well that's wonderful you'll have a simply splendid time!" Anne looked and wondered "but I thought you planned on taking Rosaline to Europe to visit your mother?"
Roy seemed to sigh "plans change. How's Gil?" he asked changing the subject.
"very well." She replied sensing he was avoiding the subject. "that's why we're in town actually papa was just dropping me off before he goes on the train up to Summerside for a teachers conference, Gil is coming on the afternoon train."
Roy smiled. "can't keep you two apart can you?"
Anne smiled. "Come along, I'm sure he'll think it a perfect laugh you are here." Anne offered.
Roy looked to her father "with your permission sir?" he asked her father.
Walter who had started to relax nodded his head. After all he had been wrong about Gilbert, he was probably wrong about Roy. And anyway the afternoon train Gilbert was coming on was the one he was leaving on, they wouldn't be alone.
"Roy!" Gilbert exclaimed when he came off the train. "what the heck are you doing here?" he asked. " hello sweetheart." He whispered to Anne putting an arm around her. "Principle Shirley." He smiled at Walter. "Its nice to see you, however briefly."
Walter smiled. For the first time he noticed despite having being away from Queens for two full years and dating his daughter Gilbert still hadn't dropped the 'Principle', it didn't sound right anymore. He thought to correct that once he got back. "is that your only bag?" Gilbert asked him. "it's only overnight so yes, I'm glad they'll be a man in the house." He smiled.
"you're fogey ting Willis." Anne smiled.
Walter sighed. "I'm glad they'll be a responsible man in the house." They all chuckled with the exception of Roy who stood nervously on the edge of the group. "Well best be off. See you soon." He said kissing Anne on her forehead and entering the cabin. They stayed watching the train depart then started their walk back to town.
"I thought you were going to tour Europe with Rosaline?" Gilbert asked him.
"might be a bit difficult." Roy said moodily. "I'd have to ask her fiancé's permission first."
Gilbert looked to him. "her what?!" he exclaimed.
"Hmmmm some boy she was madly in love with back home, came and swooped in and proposed."
"I'm sorry Roy." Gilbert said sympathetically.
Roy sighed heavily. "is it so bad just to ask for someone to love?"
"maybe you shouldn't be looking." Anne suggested "you might just find it then."
Roy sighed. "wise beyond her years this girl of yours." Roy smiled to Gilbert.
"I like to think so." Gilbert smiled.
"let me take you both to the restaurant in my hotel tonight." Roy asked them cheerfully. "that's all I need is good company."
"where are you staying?" Gilbert asked.
"the great George." Roy said.
"the best one in town." Anne laughed. "we can't ask you to take us there!"
"you aren't asking. I'm offering." Roy said.
"we should check with your ma first." Gilbert whispered. "can we contact you there?" Gilbert asked him.
"sure just ask for the queens suite."
"I can't believe they bring a whole menu of your own to the suite!" Anne blurted.
Roy laughed. "well its one of the perks I guess. Good food, good company." Roy sighed. "so tell me more about your little island, Charlottetown is certainly close to city standards. I must admit the red sands are fascinating."
" Oh the sands are beautiful!" Anne smiled. "I've never seen reds like it."
"you know the soil is red too." Gilbert smiled "it's what makes the roads red too."
Anne looked at him "is that true? I always wondered that!"
"you should have maybe asked!" he observed. "high sandstone content which rusts."
Anne sighed heavily "that's rather unromantic." She said disappointed.
Roy laughed. "How would you have it?" he asked.
"you asked for it this time." Gilbert grinned.
"Well I always imagined there were two star crossed lovers..." She started.
Story told food eaten and two hours later the three friends were relaxed and had a good evening. The bell to phone rang.
"Sorry Anne, Gil, I asked not to be disturbed." He said to them.
"No, no not at all." Gilbert assured him as he went to the phone.
They both realised the change in Roy's body language and tone as the conversation developed.
"I'll get the first ferry off the island in the morning and then get the first boat to France." He said seriously.
Gilbert looked concerned towards his friend as he put down the phone.
"Roy is everything okay?" he asked.
"that was my sister Dorothy." He said. "she's in Europe with my mother and my mother had taken a bad turn. She's really sick I..." He said confused. "I have to..." he trailed not thinking straight.
"say no more." Gilbert stood up the same time as Anne. "you need to get sorted."
"Oh no, Gil, Anne I am so sorry..." he started.
"No no, don't even finish that sentence." Gilbert reassured him.
"family first." Anne said kissing Roy's cheek briefly. "don't worry."
Gilbert looked to his friend and hugged him briefly. "let me know..." he trailed. "anything ... anytime." He said. "I mean it buddy."
"Thanks."
Anne and Gilbert turned towards the door and Gilbert turned back. "Roy." He said logically seeing his friend in confusion. "you need to pack your bags, you can take care of the rest later. Focus on what you can do." He told him logically.
"right, yes." Roy agreed. "logic, yes... good man thank you."
"Do you really need all these books Anne?" Willis asked his sister as he carted on the third suitcase filled with books alone. "you've filled three cases with books and only one with clothes!" he observed.
"I wouldn't want to run out of reading material." Anne said rolling her eyes laughing at her brother "and anyway I'm majoring in literature!"
"and your clothes?" he asked. "I suppose that's optional?" he mocked his sister.
Anne rolled her eyes. "that's why mother has trained me so well in housekeeping... I can wash my clothes." She retorted. She sighed and looked at her brother. "I'm going to miss you Willis." She whispered throwing her arms around him.
He smiled wryly "you too nana." He whispered back wrapping his arms around her momentarily.
She sighed "finally you'll be the oldest." She teased.
He laughed "I think you are much better at it then me." He confessed.
Anne sighed. "remember Bertha doesn't like stories on a night they have to be..."
"poems." He said to her.
"and Walter doesn't like the rainbow blanket there's too many colours use the..."
"blue striped one." He finished.
" Oh and Jane... she likes being reminded of..." Anne trailed but was interrupted.
"Anne I got this I know what to do!" he mocked.
With that Bertha and Walter (the elders) came out the door closely followed by Gilbert who had stayed there the last week of the holidays. He would be the one escorting Anne across to college.
Walter held back with Gilbert for a second. "you will take good care of her won't you Gil?" he asked him.
Gilbert gave a small smile. "on my life Principle Shirley." He said with so much tenderness and love to his voice nor even Walter could deny his sincerity.
"I think it's about time you call me Mr Shirley at least." Walter said with a grin. "I'm not your school teacher anymore." He observed.
"No, no I suppose not." Gilbert said with a far off look in his eyes.
Walter sighed "she pretends to be brave even when she isn't." Walter confided in him. "she's used to lots of people... Make sure she's surrounded with people so she won't get lonely." Walter suggested in almost a panicked tone.
Gilbert laughed "it's college she'll be surrounded by people every second... Anne will have no problems fitting in." He said confidently. "but I will make sure."
"Oh and do make sure of one thing." Walter almost requested. "make sure she and Phillipa Gordon don't her up to a lot of mischievousness. If memory serves me correctly she was well known for be outlandish."
Gilbert chuckled. "I'll try to remember."
Gilbert looked at Anne as the ferry departed from port, he noticed the tears in her eyes and wrapped an arm around her. " hey, come on sweetheart." He said tenderly.
"I feel like Byron's `Childe Harold' - only it isn't really my `native shore' that I'm watching," said Anne, winking her gray eyes vigorously. "Nova Scotia is that, I suppose."
Gilbert grinned but hid it from her " home is where the heart is." He said quoting the old saying.
" then I suppose as long as my family is on PEI then a part of me must be too." She sighed " do you think it's possible I live the island as much add I do Nova Scotia?"
" You're asking the wrong person Anne. In a tad bias myself of the island, you're an adopted islander." He told her softly.
" not a blue nose anymore then." She said dreamily. "Oh, Gilbert, I do hope I'll like Redmond and Kingsport, but I'm sure I won't!"
"Where's all your philosophy gone, Anne?"
"It's all submerged under a great, swamping wave of loneliness and homesickness. I've longed for three years to go to Redmond - and now I'm going - and I wish I weren't! Never mind! I shall be cheerful and philosophical again after I have just one good cry. I MUST have that."
Gilbert kissed into her hair still with his arm around her He whispered " if you need to my shoulder is here for you to cry on if you need it.
She snuggled into him " just hold me Gilbert," she whispered. If I'm with you I'll still be home."
It wasn't until the next day Anne was with Pricilla and Phil found them among the crowds.
"Anne! Oh Anne Shirley! I'm so glad to find a kindred among all these strangers!" Phil started.
Anne laughed and hugged her friend, "it's so good to see you again." Anne smiled. "Won't it be marvellous fun to he together again?"
"I'll say!" she exclaimed looking to Pricilla.
" Oh Philippa Gordon this is Pricilla." Anne introduced
"pleased to meet anyone who might liven things up, speaking of which have you found anyone rich and handsome yet?"
Anne rolled her eyes "do you mean you have no one back home pining for you?"
"Oh only two in particular and neither one of them am I so attached to I couldn't let go of them for the right one... the closest thing I've seen to handsome was a boy back there with eyes out here!" Phil sighed.
"you must have found Charlie." Anne said trying to peer back to see if she could spy her friend. So busy was Anne she didn't see Gilbert coming through the crowds
"speaking of potential!" Philippa started seeing Gilbert. She confused slightly as he caught eyes with Anne and smiled.
"Anne." He said in a low voice. "there you are sweetheart ." He said gently. "I couldn't see you for a minute." He smiled. "guess how I found you?" she looked to him and wondered. He played with a loose bit of red hair and chuckled lightly. "I love I can find you in a crowd."
Philippa looked to Pricilla. "really?!" she asked amazed.
Anne noticed and introduced them.
"Well Anne Shirley you never mentioned he was handsome as well as endowed with brains!" Philippa said on amazement.
"I think Anne is quite blind to it." Gilbert teased Anne. "apparently my face doesn't factor into my attractiveness."
Anne laughed "I never said that!" she exclaimed. "you know you are quite handsome." She understated deliberately.
"Ah Gil!" the male student said as they came to the front of the line. "what are you doing here? You can't enroll twice... especially with your schedule... captain of the football team, the lambs.."
Gilbert chuckled "just came to support my lady enrolling." He explained.
"Ah you must be Anne then?" he asked her.
"that's right." Anne smiled knowing Gilbert had been accused of over talking about her before.
"Well you should have an active social life I'll expect to see more of you." He went formal asking g for her surname and getting her and the other two sighed up.
"have you seen Charlie?" Gilbert asked Anne once they were sighed up.
"we think Philippa saw him further back the line." Pricilla said.
"Come to the freshers dance tonight with me tonight Gil?" Anne asked him.
"of course." He smiled. "pick you all up at six?" he asked her.
Anne smiled and nodded her head. "I better go and find Charlie." Gilbert said pecking Anne hair . "love you." He said looking hassled pushing his way back through the crowds.
The three girls watched as he left going through the crowds. "so let's get the right?" Philippa drawled "you leave Bolingbroke three years ago you find a handsome intelligent boy who you fall madly in love with who comes to college is studying to be a doctor so even if he is poor now he has the potential of earn, captain of the junior football team AND is a member of the most elite fraternity on campus?" Philippa asked almost a scandalised.
Anne didn't care to think up an answer so instead simply nodded.
Philippa tutted. "some girls get all the luck." She trailed. "does he have any rich friends then?"
Anne laughed and thought immediately of Roy, but alas he had to defer registration for the year, staying (he told Gilbert ) at least short term until his mother's health improved. Anne had written a letter to Roy sympathising she of all people understood Roy's predicament. She liked him very much but upon further reflection, Roy's heart was far too poetic for Philippa Gordon. He was rich, handsome, but she thought the poetic and loving side would be lost on her a little... and a little too far away in Europe to be playing matchmaking with. "none come to mind." She laughed.
