We'll be together, dear together,
They all know, we're kindred spirits.
Akhmatova.
Our arrival in the village of Glen St Mary two unmarried female musicians traveling alone would surely cause quite a stir and turmoil in the village community, and I wondered with some concern where we would stay during our trip. At the same time, however, I trusted Anne, she had certainly arranged something suitable, or so I hoped. The ship left us at the nearest possible port and we traveled towards Ingelside, on local trains stopped at beautiful stations full of blossoming cherry and apple trees, all veiled in white like brides on their wedding finery. To the surprise and utter delight of Virginie the roads were reddish tint, she was fascinated by this detail and asked me endlessly bubbling questions the reason for this phenomenon, I explained it because of the iron in the soil of the island. The peace glowing from the whole island, the fresh nature and the country air, seemed to do her good, as she was bright-eyed and glowing sitting near to me, as miles went past Virgine fell asleep.
Then after weeks travel, we finally saw our first glimpse of the idyll of Glen St Mary. The village was beautiful, it was located near the harbor, it was named the Four Winds as Annes letters had informed me. Farms and fields, all around, beautiful woods, and glowing nature, we did not go straight towards the village center but left our belongings at the train station and wanted to explore the area a bit before we arrived in Ingelside. By chance we passed a large gray house with a sad and a bit battered look, it was quite far removed from everyone else, we walked through a dense spruce and forest road, and soon we saw a completely charming house, winding down the road. It had a garden like a little piece of paradise, the flower beds lined with mussels, and large dark red rose bushes glowing in the light of the setting sun, its windows gleamed and I wondered who might be living it, the garden seemed very well and recently tended. Suddenly the door to the house opened and in the doorway stood one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She was tall and slender, her thick hair was a shade mixed with pure wheat and gold it was wrapped around her head, in a coronet of braids, with a bright red silky ribbon twined in. Her face was remakably beautiful, but there was curious sense of deep remoteness in her form and stately manner that seemed almost repelling somehow. She looked towards spruces with a remarkable look on her face, gloom, but also a bit of incomprehensible happiness and pain was mixed in. The door was slowly closed and the revelation had disappeared from dim summer evening. I turned to Virginie and raised my eyebrows, she smiled and said calmly, "a woman wearing purple silk can't be completely ordinary, I have a feeling we might meet her again." I laughed and said I hadn't paid attention to the clothes, I was more fascinated by her presence, so surprising it had been in the middle of our walk, "maybe she's some kind of summer guest or actress as she had the looks for it" I pondered quietly. Virginie shook her head resolutely, "you are wrong darling, she is a resident of this village, or has been, she has that sense of being seen wider world, than this remote and picturesque corner of the Island."
Soon after that ecounter Ingelside, was before us in front of it was a large and spacious lawn and under the windows, were plenty of peonies and other flowers, in the place where the best morning light hit. The house was large and nice looking, it glowed in the last rays of the sun. The garden was well maintained and the windows were open, vivid shafts of warm light gleamed.
Suddenly we heard footsteps, and a slender red-haired young boy almost cusp of manhood, with brown rougish eyes, jumped from behind a copse of trees, shouting happily to someone below him, "tomorrow Faith, we'll meet after your Fathers sermon, then!" We heard young girls laughter rush in a quiet evening, like a nightingale. The young man turned, in haste, and saw us, as we stood almost in the middle of the road, and looked at us quickly, attentively, and kindly, noticing our bags, and saying, in a friendly tone of voice " you must be Elizabeth and Virginie, from Russia or Paris and he smiled at us teasingly. Mums have been waiting for your arrival, so long, come inside, instead of skulking here on the road!"So saying the unknown raised his voice to a piercing whistle, and soon a figure appeared on the porch, in a gray-green dress, who told the young man,"Jem, why you were making noise, luckily you don't whistle inside, yet."Anne's lecture was interrupted as she spotted us and rushed down the stairs shouting happily, towards inside,"Oh little Elizabeth, you're here at last, our weary travelers, Gilbert, they're here!"
With a smile, I took Virginie by the hand and we started walking towards Anne and we all met in a tangle of limbs and front door of the house was open and, intoxicating smells, of good supper floated from it. A light gust of wind hummed in the flowers, and somewhere close up it sounded like a few fairy bells were ringing softly. The clear and beautiful lines of Ingelside glowed around us, suddenly we were in the middle of a large crowd, few of Anne's children were around us and everyone was talking loudly. The youngest Rilla, with a reddish-brownhair, and gleaming hazel eyes and creamy complexion admired in italics at my and Virginies clothes, the twins, brownhaired and dainty Nan and tall and redheaded, Di inquired about visiting Paris, and all the literature, and culture, and the severity of the trip, the eldest grinning Jem had gone somewhere, full of goodnatured mischief of the joyous chaos caused by our arrival, at the tail end of Ingelsidean succulent supper. A gray haired straight-backed figure of a woman, came out of the kitchen and nodded to Anne, who said to me that Susan, has made us tea if we cared to drink it after our heavy journey.
We were served tea, in beautiful bone-china porcelain service, it was adorned with thin gilding and graceful pink roses, as Anne playfully pointed out that "as a redhead she could not wear pink herself, but she could decorate her home tea sets with as many different rose cups as she wanted. There is something so comforting about floral porcelain, there is a small piece of summer, even in all seasons."The tea was Canadian brand called, Red Rose, as Anne told to me in between cups, a strong and fullbodied flavour, it was like drinking a caress that was full of sunshine.
I noticed that Virginie observed curiously at the interior of Ingelside, and walked around with a tea in her hand, looking at paintings, curios and books, caressing them with a light touch. There was a wonderful pair of green-spotted porcelain dogs on the edge of the fireplace, they were watching the hustle and bustle around them with dignity. Gilbert came from his study at that point, his curls in tangles and a deep sense of humor twinkling from his warm brown eyes, nodded at the dogs and said their names were Gog and Magog, thus named from of old Testament, and they were a kind of home deites, not so much an ornaments as such. He quickly checked Virginies pulse, and ordered her kindly but firmly to be resting soon, amused by this incident, I wondered if Gilbert might well be able to help Virginie, even in part, as his manner was calm and relaxing and Virginie seemed respond well to it, there was one that usual standoffishess, or shyness, that was so usual in her these situations towards medical professionals.
I told Anne in a low voice that we left our trunks at the train station for storage, they would be brought tomorrow to the address where we would be. Anne emphatically said to me in light and in a determined tone that we would stay here, share the sparest of spare room, as it was spacious, and extremely comfortable. Ingelside will never turn anyone off their door, so saying she glanced at Virginie and then at me, quickly.
Virginie chatted enthusiastically with someone sitting in the fence railing. I didn't see anyone, but from her body language I thought the topic was related to music, for there was relaxation and brilliance in Virginies manner that only a few things brought about, music being one of them. I suddenly noticed that my fingers trembled, so I hid them in my dress, and I took a deep breath, and calmly counted to three, just if I was going to perform on stage, the trick worked, and my nerves calmed down, and I was able to participate in the conversation, that was debated fiercely around me. Nan wanted to know about the Russian Imperial court and Di about Parisian literary circles, and Rilla some tips about latest fashion, so I replied to each girl in turn calmly. It felt weird to speak English after so many years of speaking French and Russian, I noticed there was a slight French accent in my English.
Soon after that discussion, with Anne we were escorted to most to the most beautiful and cozy guest room, the spearest of spare room by Annes parlance. Anne smiled at us and wished us a peaceful night and informed that the family would go to church tomorrow because it's Sunday, but we don't have to come unless we want to. The slight sent of lily of the valley lingered in the air after she had left, closing the door after her.
The room was bright, on the window-sill there were a few lilac branches in a vase. The bedspread was really beautiful and detailed handcrafted, with fluffy pillows with lace edge in them. There was a hand-woven rug was on the floor, oval in shape with stripes, the other furniture was a mahogany wardrobe, and a desk against the window, as well as a mirror that reflected the glow of the oil lamp into the room.
In the warm light, I combed my hair, about a hundred times, and gave the brush to Virginie, who detached her pins and with a small sigh, leaned against my knees, glanced at me and smiled, quickly gathered the fragrant hair on her shoulder and combed it, lightly. I reached for the dark red silk ribbon and braided her hair into a loose braid. I turned, and I felt her fingers quickly braid my own hair.
The room smelled, of lilac, and of spruce trees from open window. I noticed Virginie fingering a thin chain around her neck, it had her cross and a my ring with amethyst reflecting its light on her soft skin. We had decided, at Nathalies, not to keep our rings while we were at Ingelside, it was safer to keep them in chains around our necks, the thought was so painful, so I shook my head and with a resolute nod, and with a tug I opened my chain and slipped my ring into my finger, there it glimmerd, a shrad of pink and silver. Virginie looked at me, my resolute face, then nodded slow, and sure in a fluid movement, put her ring back in place, with a deep and content smile.
Virginie whispered to me that she would very much to like to go to the service, tomorrow as there was apparently an beautiful organ in the church, and she pointed out to me somewhat reprehensibly that, as an Orthodox, presbyterian services were an area completely unknown to her. While in Paris, she had attended mainly Orthodox services, and few Catholic ones too. I looked at her in amazement, and she laughed, soflty and said that she had talked a little with Anne's daughter Di, who mentioned it, as she had wanted to practice her french, and had mentioned that Reverend Meredith's wife was very musical, as was the priest's second daughter, Una.
So then we chose our clothes for tomorrow's service. It was an utter bliss to be sleeping a proper bed after travelling for so long.
The morning turned to be bright and cloudless, and quiet. I was used to the bustle and noise of the St Petersburg and Paris, that the silence and peace of the village even felt a little ominous. We were both in light colors, as suitable for summertime; Virginie in a cream dress with a narrow lace collar, and I in a light ice blue cotton dress with purple embroidery on the collar and cuffs. We did both braid our hair in a low crown, under narrow light straw hats with gauze. On the way to church, I collected a bouquet of flowers that I shared between Virginie and myself, and decorated our hats with them.
The service was impressive and the choir sang the chorals works, hymns and motets well. Revered Meredith preached very skillfully, with warmth, and enthusiasm. The subject of today was intertwined in the book of Ruth and the idea of Christian mercy towards all neighbors, or something of that ilk. On the first bench, I noticed a slender dark-haired girl who seemed to shudder lightly when the organist played the wrong chord, I concluded that she must be Una.
When the service was over, I noticed a woman coming toward us very resolutely. She was over-middle-aged greying brunette dressed in a dark blue dress, and wearing a rose-patterned bathrobe, and a light straw hat that was tilted slightly. The woman stopped in front of us and said in a bright voice,
"Well you are those musicians from somewhere far away, welcome to Glen St Mary. I'm Ms. Marshall Elliott, and I lead a women's craft club, and head the villages quilting society and do all sorts of things around here. Oh what a wonderful work" she exclaimed, and touched Virginies scarf with her fingertips, she had packed the shawl of Zinaida Nikolaevnas, and put it on her shoulders for the duration of the service its, varied tassels touching the floor, lightly in a gentle breeze.
Virginie looked at me silently, and I raised my voice kindly and briefly explained to Ms. Marshall-Elliot that the shawl was a gift, and neither of us is particularly talented in the crafts, we are here for a summer season mainly to visit the Blythes and have some vacation.
Mollified Ms. Marshall-Elliot nodded and smiled us gently and bustled away busily, nodding to everyone it seemed. I had seen no glimpse of Anne or any of the Blythes. Soon after that ecounter we walked out of the gloom and coldness of the church into the bright warm sunshine of a Sunday morning.
Anne's children were scattered somewhere, I could see Jem's red head in a close conference with a girl with light brown caramel curls and a happy dazziling radiance, in her form and manner. I did see intriguing glimpse of gleaming golden tall form of someone, in corner of my eye, that soon vanished between, leafy maples, that surrounded the church and cemetery.
My attention was soon distracted when I heard a light clear soprano addressing us in Russian a bit haltingly, but with a very good accent. I looked front of me and saw a slender girl dressed in a dark blue dress with fine, delicate handmade lace, in collar and cuffs. Her eyes were large and dark blue, her thick black, hair was gathered under a large wide straw hat, a few fluttering inky tresses hovering in the wind, her face was pale alabaster and it reminded me of a tea rose, she had a basket on her arm with a few glass jars tinkling in it.
Virginie had answered in my stead and soon a calm and slow conversation had fallen between them, of Una and Virginie it was mostly about music, and Una's language skills, she modestly stated that languages weren't really her field, more of her sisters, but a friend of a family had kindly taught her sometimes, few things here and there. This was said in shy mumbling and very quickly, looking at the skyline, where beautiful spruce trees reached towards the heavens, a small red tint rose on Una's face, which may have been due to the wind as well, as it was moderate and we were all holding our hats. The peaceful silence fell between us, that certain kind of musical minded people who know almost instantly that they are like minded in some things and have no need for words.
Una introduced us to the village and its places, and shared some local news with us, apparently the Ladies Aid had been arguing for a few months about a new craft project for the mission, the whole situation was difficult." Ms Cornelia was so fed up with the controversy that she threatened at the last meeting to acquire new members, I noticed that she approached you, probably tried already? Mother Rosemary tries to maintain peace, but because she is the wife of the, who is my Father, the Reverend her influence is limited,"Una pondered in soft and wellspoken tone.
Anne was sitting on the porch of Ingelside as we came up to the lane, she exclaimed happily when she saw us, and she nodded to Una with a smile. Una nodded back, and she slipped away softly waving her hand at us, after gifting her jars of jam to us, as a welcoming present she said, and walked straight towards the small woods, near Ingelside, slipping silently through the trees and disappeared from view. Anne said to me in her silvery tone,
"Oh how wonderful, Elizabeth and Virginie, that you did find your way back here, after the service was over, it was kind of Una to escort you here was it not, sweet, generous and kind Una Meredith is, but not at all so fragile as as her appearance would suggest"Anne pondered in a low voice almost to herself, she then seemed to collect herself and called out.
"Leslie dear-heart, come outside and meet our world travelers."The door opened, and the same woman we had seen last night stepped onto the porch, with a queenly grace. She was without a hat and the sun glowed strongly in her gold-colored hair, still twined with the red silk. She looked at us quickly, inquisitively, and said in a soft golden sort of voice a little mysteriously,"Ah you are those musicians, from Russia, I understand, there is a land to which I have not yet traveled, yet."Her voice was such if she sang she could be a light mezzo, there was a delicious, sweet, and shimmering feeling hidden in it.
Her eyes were very deep blue, like the sea and penetrating, which was further accentuated in a light blue dress, the shade of which was almost the same as mine.
I recognized the Parisian style right away, the cut of the dress was modest but at the same time copious and flowing, with half-sleeves. Leslie's presence was dazzling there was something mystical in her, like remnants of some secret tragedy hovering around in tatters.
I glanced quickly at Anne, and I noticed that there was light red shade in her delicate features, it was like cream and roses, her eyes were gleaming and starlike in the morning sunshine as she said lightly,
" Leslie-dear, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that you came from Japan, I miss you so when you're somewhere far away, it's wonderful that you're here now, and we can be together as before."
Anne's utterance seemed somehow meaningful, but I couldn't interpret it. Leslie had smiled and waved her hand, quickly, and shrugged in response, the gray-green and dark blue eyes looked at each other with a smile, it shone in their depths, some kind of wordless memory whose strength hovered around the women, there were secrets, and hidden currents, in every friendship, I pondered.
The conversation between us, was relaxed I briefly described to them my studies at the Conservatory, and the splendor of Mariinsky, and the suspense of 1905 and our recent stop at Paris among friends.
Anne seemed delighted and immediately began to enthusiastically recount the salon night at Nathalies to Leslie, and I smiled, quietly, as the evening was memorable for me too.
Virginie walked in the yard and collected flowers, which she arranged in a small vase on the table. There was a light red on her cheeks, and it looked extremely charming, but at the same time I looked at her a little worriedly, for she seemed faint and tired. Leslie watched me watching Virginie in silence, somehow remotely, calmly and matter-of-factly, for a while and then she smiled, sadly and it was like the sun rising.
I asked Anne if Virginie could play the piano, as she hadn't played in weeks. Anne nodded, and said calmly" now that you two are here, we'll get something else than Bach, Beethoven, or hymns, even though Rosemary does her best, with her different pupils and the choir." Soon Elgar soon began to echo, softly and gently in a summer breeze Elgar then flowed to Chopin and then to Rimsky-Korsakov and I knew Virginie was playing it from memory, as her notes were still in the station in the trucks.
Hours passed.
The light had changed to a shade of light gold as the day began to slowly turn towards evening, the birds fluttered, and everything around us glowed. Virginie had stopped playing piano, some time ago, and had declined food, as it was gently offered by Anne and Susan.
Now she was resting next to me in the guest room, in the light of oillamp she looked very delicate, the strains of the journey certainly had been severe. She was very pale and her pulse was fast, throbbing in a endless hum.
Suddenly the door to the room was knocked sharply, I was startled and grabbed a red embroidered kimono from open trunk, pulled it closed. My hair was flowing down freely, but I had not time to do anything elaborate to it, so I quickly tied it with a loose ribbon, its heavy quantity pressed against my head, and it flowed down almost vividly living, against a dark red of my gown, and I opened the door softly. On the doorstep stood Gilbert, he had a tray with broth and a few fresh rolls, and cloths, and he asked gently if he could come in. I glanced quickly behind me, but everything was in order in the room, and Virginie rested pale on the bed. I had felt her fever rise, so I swallowed and let Gilbert come into the room.
I haven't never been as nervous not even in the Mariinsky's audition as I was then, when I watched Gilbert studying Virginie carefully, calmly, and systematically, sometimes writing something down, and then leaving the room in quickest steps, and coming back with small basin and cold water.
He raised his eyebrows to me and said, with a calm smile"the night temperature should be made to drop, if possible, come wake me up if she starts coughing at all, or if there comes up blood from her lungs. Traveling and being up has exhausted her completely, she shouldn't have been allowed to move at all today.
I advise that she must stay to strictly in this room for the next few days, which is to be made dim and comfortable. I will tell Susan, she know what to do. Well, rest easy, Elizabeth, Virginie is here with us, and this is the more of the same usual, no need to worry, not yet."Gilbert touched my shoulder lightly and left the room, closing the door behind him.
I rested my head on my hands and the hot tears ran down the coverlet, and I promised myself that I would take better care of her, but it made it easier for me to know that Gilbert could help if anything, at the same time my mind refused to think about life without her. I felt a light touch in my hair, and I heard her voice say quietly,
"darling, I'm still here, we still have time, don't worry. I'm just worn down from all the travelling, and I did too much today. I'll be on my feet in a couple of days, but I think you'll have to go on longer walks alone from now on."
I bowed down to her and pressed a light kiss to her burning forehead, then curled up next to her and fell asleep.
The next few days passed calmly as Susan took care of Virginie, among her other responsibilities, with devotion, wim and warmth.
I read to Virginie in french, and russian novels, and poetry, and Di told funny anecdotes of her siblings childhood escapades in Avonlea, and around Glen.
One afternoon I asked Di, about Walter's absence, as the other siblings were in Ingelside, but not him, I hope he was not ill? Di laughed and said Walter was in Lowbridge he would return soon. He would be extremely pleased that you had arrived, as he has waited a very long time for this meeting to occur. Di then looked at me quickly, with her grey-green eyes, and said in a low voice, "you probably don't know what a wonderful act you did Elizabeth when you sent him those books, it's just like he'd found some peace from them. He is no longer so gloomy, moody or overdramatic at all, or not very often."I looked out the window the next night, the wind was humming in the trees and the little bells rang in the Rainbow Valley, they brought an enchanting spirit into the evening. I noticed a slender figure walking down the road, he was dark-haired and beautiful young man, with a light long-sleeved shirt, straight dark pants, a light, airy step. He stopped to watch the sun, and the rising shadows of the evening accentuated his pale, delicate features. His eyes were large and gray, hair thick and pitch black, his fingers were slender, and he turned to Ingelside with a dreamy smile.
Now the last child of Annes had come home.
A/N:
A big thank you to all the readers, and reviewers. It's just incredibly moving that this little work of mine interests so many of you! My very best wishes to all!
Suomalaisille lukijoilleni: Melkein pelottaa, että tätä luetaan näin paljon, mutta hienoa, mikäli pidätte.