Chapter 24
Avonlea, Prince Edward Island
Diana was gone.
Anne walked through the first floor of the Fred Wright Farm, calling Diana's name. No Diana. The farmhouse was empty.
Anne walked down the road to the Barry Farm. Once again, she walked through empty farmhouse rooms. Calling for Diana. No answer.
Where was everybody? Anne remembered that they were all at the Avonlea Cemetery. Committing Diana to the ground.
No more Diana. Diana was gone from her life.
Anne had never made things right with Diana. Not really. Anne's anger that Diana submitted Avril's Atonement to the baking company contest. Anne's anger that Diana asked Anne to return to her the money that Anne received from DIANA'S Aunt Josephine Barry. Anne's anger that Diana didn't show enough concerned at Gilbert's cave accident. Anne's anger that Diana didn't show enough gratitude when Anne put aside her pride and agreed to sign off on Owen Ford's book so that Anne could give the money to Diana. Anne's anger that Diana didn't even bother to read the book.
Diana was gone.
Anne woke up alone in the guest bed at Green Gables.
Gilbert was sixty miles away in Glen St. Mary. Gilbert was most likely out of their own bed and on a call.
Today was Anne's last full day in Avonlea. Tomorrow, she would board the train for her reunion with Gilbert.
Diana was not dead. Diana was most likely curled up with Fred in the bed that they shared at their farm.
Why did she dream that Diana died? Foreboding? Well, someday Diana would die. As Anne would someday die.
Diana had her life with Fred. Anne had her own life with Gilbert. Anne felt Diana slipping further and further away from her.
Anne's anger from the dream faded. Anne grieved Diana's future death.
Come back to me, Diana, she thought.
After breakfast, Anne travelled down the road to the Fred Wright Farm.
"Diana, dear, you must have had your hands full all morning. I'll see why Anne Cordelia is calling out for you," Anne said.
Anne saw to the needs of Anne Cordelia. She returned to the kitchen.
Diana said, "Thank you, Anne! I haven't been able to sit down all morning until now."
Anne said, "I brought my sewing. Can we talk a few minutes on the porch?"
Puzzled, Diana said, "Well, I wasn't going to do my mending until this afternoon, but okay."
The two sat on the porch.
Anne said, "Diana, I greatly treasure your friendship. I always have."
Diana said, "Why, thank you, Anne."
Anne continued. "You have done for me than I can ever hope to repay. I don't have the words to express what you've done for me."
Diana sat for several moments, saying nothing.
"To tell you the truth, Anne, I'm really surprised to hear this all from you. To tell you the truth, lately I've felt you lord it over me that you saved our farm."
Anne said, "Indeed?"
Diana said, "Oh, it was nothing that you said. It was just - your mannerisms. You have just seemed put out at me. I can't explain it, exactly."
Anne said, "Well, I am truly sorry for that."
Diana and Anne sewed in silence for untold moments.
Anne said, "Forgive me if I'm wrong about this. However, I get the feeling that something else is going on with you."
Diana said, "Fred gambled our money. That's why we almost lost the farm."
Anne said, "Fred gambled your money?"
Diana said, "Well, technically he didn't GAMBLE. He didn't put it on a horse race or a hockey game or anything like that. We don't do that. He spent it on bonds for the Grand Truck Railway. The railroad had a setback. Fred lost most of our money."
Anne said, "Oh, Diana."
Diana said, "That's why I asked you for the money. It's not because I'm greedy or anything. Oh, Anne, what were we going to do? Live in Minnie May's guestroom? Her husband doesn't like us. What was Fred going to do? Hire himself out as a farmhand? Go work for the Pye's?"
Diana started to cry.
"And the worst thing was, Fred bought those railroad bonds without discussing it with me first. Not that he had to. I'm only his wife."
Anne put her arms around Diana. She squeezed Diana as Diana sobbed into her shoulder.
"I've been so humiliated, Anne. Us depending on you and Gilbert to help us out of this mess that Fred caused. I've been so angry at Fred. I can't do anything about it. I'm just a wife, just a woman. I feel so helpless."
Anne said, "It's alright, Diana. I'm here for you."
Diana said, "Thanks for listening, Anne."
