Okay, I was so happy to get that many reviews for my last chapter that I decided to do something special for all the reviewers. I've read a lot of stories where the author does those personalized shout-out thingies and I've always felt really cool (I know that's sad) when my name got on it, so I decided to do that. But first, to clear some things up...I don't just have a Spanish final. I actually have three *other* finals. (I don't have finals in Chemistry and yearbook, yay!) But three of those (Math Analysis, Eng Lit, and AP U.S. history) I *must* study *a lot* for. The other one (Spanish) is where I might slack. I'll probably take time out of studying for Spanish to write this. :) In fact, I already did. And I'm sorry this took me so long to write, I just had the mother of all English Lit tests--I had to memorize the numbers of sonnets and such. Honestly, *why* do my teachers insist on giving me big tests right *before* finals? Arrggh!!!
*Danielle: Yes, I stay up at night trying to come up with the twists ::grins:: I will study a little. In fact, I'll probably study a lot. I'm a pretty compulsive studier.
*anne_gil_forever: Hmmm...maybe you should write your own story. It sounds intriguing, I would read it...but your idea pretty much goes against everything I have planned :)
*Arwen: Yes, the second greatest mistake thing is one of the ideas I'm most proud of. Good job picking up its importance, it will probably make a showing again.
*MeLLo: Thanks, I'm glad everyone is still interested in my long, dragged out story. I try to write fast, but homework calls...
*Bill Gates Jr the 4th: You have an interesting name. Yes, being 17 is a trial. Actually I'm still not 17 yet, but almost...
*Dani: Thanks, and sorry, but posting the next day was wishful thinking.
*Beth: Yes, I like to draw things out. Can you tell?
*Grace: I know, I know. I should stop concentrating on the frivilous things (like studying) and work on the important things (like this).
*Gueck Thea: That *is* a one-in-a-million name. And yay, I'm glad you like it!
*Dolores: Yay! Someone thinks I'm funny! And I *was* going to have Gilbert run away, but then I decided that would make it *too* long.
*merky: Oooh, thanks, I'm honored (to be one of your favorites, I mean).
*Skyflyer: Yeah, I dislike Roy, too, which is kind of unreasonable, cause it's not like he's a horrible guy or anything. He just not Gilbert (which is the whole point). And I had planned to bring Dorothy into this story but I forgot. Oh well.
*aurelia darcy: My birthday is the 17th. My golden birthday, yay!
*Emma: It's okay, I don't blame you for dropping chemistry and ditching me and leaving me all alone ::gives a mock sob:: And the study group went well. Hopefully the test went well too (or else our grades will plummet). I like David too, but I guess you can have him. Gilbert, however, is mine. Bwa ha ha ha!
*Rachel: Yeah, Mrs. Lynde is alway delightfully consistent in her busybodyness (I don't think that's a word. Oh well).
*Nora: Yeah, but it's getting the *right* tense that's the tricky part...
*M: Thanks, I just *had* to bring Roy into it.
*Chran Basil: I *like* to think that sometimes I'm funny...tell that to my friends, they often just look at me oddly.
*Christine: Thank you, hopefully the upcoming ending will be even *better*.
*Lala: Well, good luck on *your* final. I, unfortunately, am a ridiculously conscientious student who *has* to study.
*Caitlyn: Yeah, Davidina...that's what I'm going to name *my* kid...*Right*.
*Kayleigh: Yes, I'm pretty much L.M. Montgomery obsessed. There are a lot of people like that out there (I was surprised, too).
*Solitaire: Plot complications are my specialty...
*chickee: Yeah, I decided I'd been playing with Gilbert's mind enough...
*Hezakiah Evans: Lily's Long-Lo: Yeah, sleep is good...but stories are better (unless you stayed up half the previous night studying for an English Lit test or something like that. No, that's *never* happened to me.) Yes, I do owe you props for reviewing every single one in that short of a time-span. Thanks.
*NookNak: Thanks, and it was fun talking to you online.
*lily: I know, all my plot complications keep you guessing, huh?
*Lily23: Yeah, Anne's had it pretty rough, hasn't she? But hopefully the ends justify the means. And I guess my finals are really "semester finals" but everyone at my school calls them finals, so...
*Habile_gal: I hope my style of writing fits, I've read the books enough times... And that author's note suggestion was a good one. I'll try to do that.
*Kat: Thanks a lot, I'm glad you like it.
*L: Let's see. I think it's *no estudias y escribes un otro parte*. Or something like that.
*AngieJ: I tried. But writing just didn't happen last week. I was up until twelve every night last week trying to remember that "I wrote her name upon the strand" is a sonnet by Spenser and that while Beelzebub is Satan's assistant in Paradise Lost, he *is* Satan in Pilgrim's Progress. Grr...
*Melete: Thanks, the kindred spirit quote ("Kindred spirits aren't so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.") in Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites.
*Someone: I try. :)
**********
XVIII
Gilbert stood uneasily in the Green Gables parlor after being ushered in, along with Roy, by a poker-faced Marilla. "So that's why she looked so amused earlier," he reflected, risking a glance at Roy, who was staring stonily out the window. He sat down on a high-backed, cushioned chair then abruptly stood up again, rubbing his bottom. Goodness, that cushion was as hard as a rock! He warily looked around the parlor and chose a soft-enough looking ottoman to sit on instead. Roy likewise sat, still in silence.
Gilbert cleared his throat awkwardly. He'd come across Roy several times during the Redmond years at Patty's Place and had conversed with him pleasantly enough. Of course, he'd never taken a great liking to him-hated the fellow bitterly, in fact. But that had just been jealousy. Now that he knew he didn't have anything of which to be envious, he regarded Roy in a new light.
Handsome, yes, the dark-haired, dreamy-eyed type all the girls fall for. And intelligent-he knew Anne could never abide anyone who wasn't. But, even though his envy had made him prejudiced, he'd always thought there was something missing in the man-or perhaps *nothing* missing. Maybe that was the point-he was too perfect.
"You're lucky," Roy said presently, startling Gilbert by breaking the stillness.
"Excuse me?" Gilbert responded, still lost in his reverie.
"I should have known," Roy declared, shaking his head and ignoring Gilbert's question. "The flowers at Convocation-that *did* have deeper meaning than I thought."
Gilbert's mind flashed back to the moment at Redmond when he'd seen Anne walking across the platform, his lilies in her hair. His heart had given a leap, and he'd attempted after the ceremony to push through the crowd to talk to her. He'd almost reached her when she'd gotten into a carriage with Roy. It had been then, seeing him gazing after the couple, that some busybody had informed him that their engagement was on the point of being announced.
"You're lucky," Roy repeated, still not looking at Gilbert.
"We're not, you know, *engaged* or anything," Gilbert said embarrassedly, giving voice to a thought that had taken over his subconscious but that he was afraid to think about directly for fear of jinxing it. Goodness knows that he and Anne had already experienced enough difficulties.
"But you're not denying that you love her, are you," Roy stated. It was not a question. Gilbert looked at him again. He appeared sufficiently sad, yes, but not devastated. Before he'd thought that Roy, being rich and influential, could give Anne the life she deserved, but now he knew this not to be the case. He didn't really love her-was probably just infatuated.
"Oooh, can I join the party?" Gilbert's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of David, followed by Fred.
"Look who the cat dragged in," Gilbert said sarcastically in response. "Oh, hi Fred," he added as further insult to David. "Is Diana here?"
"She's upstairs with Anne, helping her change or something," Fred replied, looking curiously at Royal. "We met this fellow on the road," he gestured to David, "and he begged to come, we couldn't refuse."
"Too bad." Then, seeing David's pointed stare at Royal, Gilbert proceeded to introduce them. "Oh, David, Fred, this is Royal Gardner. Anne, er, he was an acquaintance of Anne's at Redmond."
Fred and David raised their eyebrows. The wheels were turning in David's diabolical brain.
They obligingly shook hands, then David said, "So, Royal, what drew you to the Island at this time of year? I mean, I know the scenery's beautiful, we pride ourselves on it. Come to get your fill of nature? Or perhaps something else?"
Gilbert rolled his eyes and grabbed David by the shoulder, in a show of friendliness but really with a very firm grip. "Of *course* that's why he's come, Dave," he said pointedly. Before he would have paid to see Roy Gardner suffer, but now he felt almost kindly toward him.
**********
"Goodness, where *is* the minister?" Mrs. Lynde threw up her hands in despair. "I've kept the potatoes hot for half an hour, but I'm afraid they will burn."
"I've dispatched Davy to the manse to see what's going on," Marilla responded. "We simply can't keep all the guests waiting much longer."
Presently Anne and Diana came down from the east gable. Marilla surveyed Anne's countenance amusedly.
"A bit dressed up for a simple tea at home?" she asked, taking in Anne's carefully twisted hair and frilly green dress.
Anne blushed. "Of course, it's out of respect for the manse," she said loftily, hiding a smile.
"Oh, *of course*," Marilla replied sarcastically. "Listen, Gilbert and Fred and David Owen and that Kingsport man, Mr. Gardner, are all in the parlor."
"I wonder what they're finding to talk about," Diana giggled, revealing her dimples. "We only need Billy Andrews, Charlie Sloane, and that other man, what's his name?"
"Sam," Anne replied, barely able to contain her laughter.
"Yes, Sam," Diana continued, "and then *all* the men who've proposed to you, Anne, would be in this house."
"Wouldn't that be lovely?"
"Wait, Anne, who is this 'Sam'?" Marilla asked curiously.
Anne proceeded to describe Sam, his peppermints, and rather uncouth "proposal" to Marilla and Mrs. Lynde between fits of laughter.
Presently Davy ran through the door, breathing heavily.
"Well?" Marilla prompted. "Where are they?"
"Goodness, Marilla, let a fellow catch his breath." Davy sat down at the kitchen table. "Mrs. Jedidiah Sloane is dying-"
"Again?" Mrs. Lynde interrupted, exasperated.
"Well, she thinks it's the real thing this time-"
"That's what she said *last* time," Mrs. Lynde muttered.
"So she insisted on having the minister come to pray over her. His wife expressed her regrets, saying that she'll invite you to tea sometime next week."
"Well, I guess the only thing to do is serve tea to everyone who's here," Marilla said. "Davy, go get the men in the parlor. Anne, Dora, help me carry all the food to the table in the sitting room."
Davy entered the parlor where David was earnestly telling Roy something about law in over-elaborate language that he was making up on the spot. Roy was nodding solemnly, lapping it all up, while Gilbert was attempting, almost futilely, to control his laughter.
"Tea time!" Davy announced.
Gilbert turned to the boy. "Oh, Davy, I heard about what you did to Mrs. Harmon Andrews' pig," he said, shaking his head in mock-solemnity.
David caught on quickly. "Yes, and do you know what I heard?" he asked, contorting his face into a mournful expression.
Davy shook his head, eyes wide. "What?"
"The blue dye spread from the tail to the entire pig," David went on, winking at Gilbert and Fred over Davy's head. "I guess it just seeped through the pores in its skin or something."
Roy had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at this nonsense.
"And that's not all," Fred added. "When the pig saw its reflection in the trough, it squealed in fright-"
"And fell down dead on the spot," Gilbert finished.
Davy's mouth formed an O. "Wha-what?" he stammered. "I-I didn't want to kill the pig at all, just change the color of its tail to spite Mrs. Harmon Andrews."
Anne, who'd paused in the doorway and heard the whole conversation while carrying the biscuits to the sitting room, couldn't stay silent any longer. "What tomfoolery are they trying to get you to believe now, Davy? Honestly, it '*seeped* through the pores'?"
"Seems plausible enough to me," David shrugged, smiling.
"Well, you're not the doctor-to-be. I bet you were inwardly cringing when he said that, weren't you, Gilbert?" Anne asked, laughing a little.
Fred glanced down at Davy, who was blushing embarrassedly at being so fooled. "It's okay, Davy-boy, we were just teasing."
"Yes, really we're in awe of you because it was such an honorable trick," Gilbert added.
"Of course it was, look who he's named after," David declared. "At dinner, namesake, you'll have to tell me all about the joke."
Davy brightened.
Anne rolled her eyes. "And Davy, there *is* a way to tell when Gilbert is joking. Just look at his eyes, they're always twinkling, he can't hide it no matter how hard he tries." She gazed over at Gilbert, who noticeably flushed at her words.
"Take it from someone who knows. Certainly Gilbert's (coughflirtedwithcough)-I mean, *teased* Anne enough over the years," David said, ignoring both of their glares.
Glancing at Royal, Gilbert gripped his friend's shoulder again, trying to think of an innocent question to ask to change the subject. "So, Davy, why *did* you want to spite Mrs. Harmon Andrews anyway? I mean, besides the fact that she's an ugly old windbag?"
Anne, smiling, tried to give him a reproving look, but failed miserably.
"Well," Davy began brightly, addressing Gilbert, "I overheard her talking with Josie Pye's mom at the church social about how Anne had said she wouldn't marry you, and how you were just infatuated with her and would get over it, and how she didn't deserve you anyway, cause she was an orphan, and..." Seeing the look on Anne's face, he let his voice trail off.
David's sides were shaking with silent laughter.
"But that's not true, is it Gilbert?" Davy asked anxiously. "You're not just infatuated, are you?"
Gilbert glanced involuntarily at Roy, whose features had become again immobile. He could *not* look at Anne.
The room became silent except for Fred and David's occasional snickers.
Luckily, Mrs. Lynde came in presently, bailing them out. "Tea's been ready five minutes, what *have* you all been discussing that was so absorbing?"
"Oh, pigs and pores, Mrs. Lynde, pigs and pores," Anne responded flippantly, glad to be rid of the awkward situation.
"And infatuation," David added. He pulled Davy off the to side as everyone filed into the sitting room. "Davy, lad, you're a man after my own heart. You really have a knack for posing the difficult question, don't you? I like that. Sit next to me at tea."
Davy grinned.
David bent down closer to the boy. "Now, there are several things we must do to make dinner as uncomfortable as possible. You've already given us a great lead-in, but I'll still need your help." He began to whisper in his ear.
"Be ready to laugh a fit to kill," he concluded, tousling Davy's hair.
**********
Post-Author's Note: Okay, sorry, that was pretty fluffy, I'd intended the chapter to be meatier, but I don't have time to write the whole tea scene right now, so I figured I'd just split it up. Review please, as always! :)
*Danielle: Yes, I stay up at night trying to come up with the twists ::grins:: I will study a little. In fact, I'll probably study a lot. I'm a pretty compulsive studier.
*anne_gil_forever: Hmmm...maybe you should write your own story. It sounds intriguing, I would read it...but your idea pretty much goes against everything I have planned :)
*Arwen: Yes, the second greatest mistake thing is one of the ideas I'm most proud of. Good job picking up its importance, it will probably make a showing again.
*MeLLo: Thanks, I'm glad everyone is still interested in my long, dragged out story. I try to write fast, but homework calls...
*Bill Gates Jr the 4th: You have an interesting name. Yes, being 17 is a trial. Actually I'm still not 17 yet, but almost...
*Dani: Thanks, and sorry, but posting the next day was wishful thinking.
*Beth: Yes, I like to draw things out. Can you tell?
*Grace: I know, I know. I should stop concentrating on the frivilous things (like studying) and work on the important things (like this).
*Gueck Thea: That *is* a one-in-a-million name. And yay, I'm glad you like it!
*Dolores: Yay! Someone thinks I'm funny! And I *was* going to have Gilbert run away, but then I decided that would make it *too* long.
*merky: Oooh, thanks, I'm honored (to be one of your favorites, I mean).
*Skyflyer: Yeah, I dislike Roy, too, which is kind of unreasonable, cause it's not like he's a horrible guy or anything. He just not Gilbert (which is the whole point). And I had planned to bring Dorothy into this story but I forgot. Oh well.
*aurelia darcy: My birthday is the 17th. My golden birthday, yay!
*Emma: It's okay, I don't blame you for dropping chemistry and ditching me and leaving me all alone ::gives a mock sob:: And the study group went well. Hopefully the test went well too (or else our grades will plummet). I like David too, but I guess you can have him. Gilbert, however, is mine. Bwa ha ha ha!
*Rachel: Yeah, Mrs. Lynde is alway delightfully consistent in her busybodyness (I don't think that's a word. Oh well).
*Nora: Yeah, but it's getting the *right* tense that's the tricky part...
*M: Thanks, I just *had* to bring Roy into it.
*Chran Basil: I *like* to think that sometimes I'm funny...tell that to my friends, they often just look at me oddly.
*Christine: Thank you, hopefully the upcoming ending will be even *better*.
*Lala: Well, good luck on *your* final. I, unfortunately, am a ridiculously conscientious student who *has* to study.
*Caitlyn: Yeah, Davidina...that's what I'm going to name *my* kid...*Right*.
*Kayleigh: Yes, I'm pretty much L.M. Montgomery obsessed. There are a lot of people like that out there (I was surprised, too).
*Solitaire: Plot complications are my specialty...
*chickee: Yeah, I decided I'd been playing with Gilbert's mind enough...
*Hezakiah Evans: Lily's Long-Lo: Yeah, sleep is good...but stories are better (unless you stayed up half the previous night studying for an English Lit test or something like that. No, that's *never* happened to me.) Yes, I do owe you props for reviewing every single one in that short of a time-span. Thanks.
*NookNak: Thanks, and it was fun talking to you online.
*lily: I know, all my plot complications keep you guessing, huh?
*Lily23: Yeah, Anne's had it pretty rough, hasn't she? But hopefully the ends justify the means. And I guess my finals are really "semester finals" but everyone at my school calls them finals, so...
*Habile_gal: I hope my style of writing fits, I've read the books enough times... And that author's note suggestion was a good one. I'll try to do that.
*Kat: Thanks a lot, I'm glad you like it.
*L: Let's see. I think it's *no estudias y escribes un otro parte*. Or something like that.
*AngieJ: I tried. But writing just didn't happen last week. I was up until twelve every night last week trying to remember that "I wrote her name upon the strand" is a sonnet by Spenser and that while Beelzebub is Satan's assistant in Paradise Lost, he *is* Satan in Pilgrim's Progress. Grr...
*Melete: Thanks, the kindred spirit quote ("Kindred spirits aren't so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.") in Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites.
*Someone: I try. :)
**********
XVIII
Gilbert stood uneasily in the Green Gables parlor after being ushered in, along with Roy, by a poker-faced Marilla. "So that's why she looked so amused earlier," he reflected, risking a glance at Roy, who was staring stonily out the window. He sat down on a high-backed, cushioned chair then abruptly stood up again, rubbing his bottom. Goodness, that cushion was as hard as a rock! He warily looked around the parlor and chose a soft-enough looking ottoman to sit on instead. Roy likewise sat, still in silence.
Gilbert cleared his throat awkwardly. He'd come across Roy several times during the Redmond years at Patty's Place and had conversed with him pleasantly enough. Of course, he'd never taken a great liking to him-hated the fellow bitterly, in fact. But that had just been jealousy. Now that he knew he didn't have anything of which to be envious, he regarded Roy in a new light.
Handsome, yes, the dark-haired, dreamy-eyed type all the girls fall for. And intelligent-he knew Anne could never abide anyone who wasn't. But, even though his envy had made him prejudiced, he'd always thought there was something missing in the man-or perhaps *nothing* missing. Maybe that was the point-he was too perfect.
"You're lucky," Roy said presently, startling Gilbert by breaking the stillness.
"Excuse me?" Gilbert responded, still lost in his reverie.
"I should have known," Roy declared, shaking his head and ignoring Gilbert's question. "The flowers at Convocation-that *did* have deeper meaning than I thought."
Gilbert's mind flashed back to the moment at Redmond when he'd seen Anne walking across the platform, his lilies in her hair. His heart had given a leap, and he'd attempted after the ceremony to push through the crowd to talk to her. He'd almost reached her when she'd gotten into a carriage with Roy. It had been then, seeing him gazing after the couple, that some busybody had informed him that their engagement was on the point of being announced.
"You're lucky," Roy repeated, still not looking at Gilbert.
"We're not, you know, *engaged* or anything," Gilbert said embarrassedly, giving voice to a thought that had taken over his subconscious but that he was afraid to think about directly for fear of jinxing it. Goodness knows that he and Anne had already experienced enough difficulties.
"But you're not denying that you love her, are you," Roy stated. It was not a question. Gilbert looked at him again. He appeared sufficiently sad, yes, but not devastated. Before he'd thought that Roy, being rich and influential, could give Anne the life she deserved, but now he knew this not to be the case. He didn't really love her-was probably just infatuated.
"Oooh, can I join the party?" Gilbert's thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of David, followed by Fred.
"Look who the cat dragged in," Gilbert said sarcastically in response. "Oh, hi Fred," he added as further insult to David. "Is Diana here?"
"She's upstairs with Anne, helping her change or something," Fred replied, looking curiously at Royal. "We met this fellow on the road," he gestured to David, "and he begged to come, we couldn't refuse."
"Too bad." Then, seeing David's pointed stare at Royal, Gilbert proceeded to introduce them. "Oh, David, Fred, this is Royal Gardner. Anne, er, he was an acquaintance of Anne's at Redmond."
Fred and David raised their eyebrows. The wheels were turning in David's diabolical brain.
They obligingly shook hands, then David said, "So, Royal, what drew you to the Island at this time of year? I mean, I know the scenery's beautiful, we pride ourselves on it. Come to get your fill of nature? Or perhaps something else?"
Gilbert rolled his eyes and grabbed David by the shoulder, in a show of friendliness but really with a very firm grip. "Of *course* that's why he's come, Dave," he said pointedly. Before he would have paid to see Roy Gardner suffer, but now he felt almost kindly toward him.
**********
"Goodness, where *is* the minister?" Mrs. Lynde threw up her hands in despair. "I've kept the potatoes hot for half an hour, but I'm afraid they will burn."
"I've dispatched Davy to the manse to see what's going on," Marilla responded. "We simply can't keep all the guests waiting much longer."
Presently Anne and Diana came down from the east gable. Marilla surveyed Anne's countenance amusedly.
"A bit dressed up for a simple tea at home?" she asked, taking in Anne's carefully twisted hair and frilly green dress.
Anne blushed. "Of course, it's out of respect for the manse," she said loftily, hiding a smile.
"Oh, *of course*," Marilla replied sarcastically. "Listen, Gilbert and Fred and David Owen and that Kingsport man, Mr. Gardner, are all in the parlor."
"I wonder what they're finding to talk about," Diana giggled, revealing her dimples. "We only need Billy Andrews, Charlie Sloane, and that other man, what's his name?"
"Sam," Anne replied, barely able to contain her laughter.
"Yes, Sam," Diana continued, "and then *all* the men who've proposed to you, Anne, would be in this house."
"Wouldn't that be lovely?"
"Wait, Anne, who is this 'Sam'?" Marilla asked curiously.
Anne proceeded to describe Sam, his peppermints, and rather uncouth "proposal" to Marilla and Mrs. Lynde between fits of laughter.
Presently Davy ran through the door, breathing heavily.
"Well?" Marilla prompted. "Where are they?"
"Goodness, Marilla, let a fellow catch his breath." Davy sat down at the kitchen table. "Mrs. Jedidiah Sloane is dying-"
"Again?" Mrs. Lynde interrupted, exasperated.
"Well, she thinks it's the real thing this time-"
"That's what she said *last* time," Mrs. Lynde muttered.
"So she insisted on having the minister come to pray over her. His wife expressed her regrets, saying that she'll invite you to tea sometime next week."
"Well, I guess the only thing to do is serve tea to everyone who's here," Marilla said. "Davy, go get the men in the parlor. Anne, Dora, help me carry all the food to the table in the sitting room."
Davy entered the parlor where David was earnestly telling Roy something about law in over-elaborate language that he was making up on the spot. Roy was nodding solemnly, lapping it all up, while Gilbert was attempting, almost futilely, to control his laughter.
"Tea time!" Davy announced.
Gilbert turned to the boy. "Oh, Davy, I heard about what you did to Mrs. Harmon Andrews' pig," he said, shaking his head in mock-solemnity.
David caught on quickly. "Yes, and do you know what I heard?" he asked, contorting his face into a mournful expression.
Davy shook his head, eyes wide. "What?"
"The blue dye spread from the tail to the entire pig," David went on, winking at Gilbert and Fred over Davy's head. "I guess it just seeped through the pores in its skin or something."
Roy had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at this nonsense.
"And that's not all," Fred added. "When the pig saw its reflection in the trough, it squealed in fright-"
"And fell down dead on the spot," Gilbert finished.
Davy's mouth formed an O. "Wha-what?" he stammered. "I-I didn't want to kill the pig at all, just change the color of its tail to spite Mrs. Harmon Andrews."
Anne, who'd paused in the doorway and heard the whole conversation while carrying the biscuits to the sitting room, couldn't stay silent any longer. "What tomfoolery are they trying to get you to believe now, Davy? Honestly, it '*seeped* through the pores'?"
"Seems plausible enough to me," David shrugged, smiling.
"Well, you're not the doctor-to-be. I bet you were inwardly cringing when he said that, weren't you, Gilbert?" Anne asked, laughing a little.
Fred glanced down at Davy, who was blushing embarrassedly at being so fooled. "It's okay, Davy-boy, we were just teasing."
"Yes, really we're in awe of you because it was such an honorable trick," Gilbert added.
"Of course it was, look who he's named after," David declared. "At dinner, namesake, you'll have to tell me all about the joke."
Davy brightened.
Anne rolled her eyes. "And Davy, there *is* a way to tell when Gilbert is joking. Just look at his eyes, they're always twinkling, he can't hide it no matter how hard he tries." She gazed over at Gilbert, who noticeably flushed at her words.
"Take it from someone who knows. Certainly Gilbert's (coughflirtedwithcough)-I mean, *teased* Anne enough over the years," David said, ignoring both of their glares.
Glancing at Royal, Gilbert gripped his friend's shoulder again, trying to think of an innocent question to ask to change the subject. "So, Davy, why *did* you want to spite Mrs. Harmon Andrews anyway? I mean, besides the fact that she's an ugly old windbag?"
Anne, smiling, tried to give him a reproving look, but failed miserably.
"Well," Davy began brightly, addressing Gilbert, "I overheard her talking with Josie Pye's mom at the church social about how Anne had said she wouldn't marry you, and how you were just infatuated with her and would get over it, and how she didn't deserve you anyway, cause she was an orphan, and..." Seeing the look on Anne's face, he let his voice trail off.
David's sides were shaking with silent laughter.
"But that's not true, is it Gilbert?" Davy asked anxiously. "You're not just infatuated, are you?"
Gilbert glanced involuntarily at Roy, whose features had become again immobile. He could *not* look at Anne.
The room became silent except for Fred and David's occasional snickers.
Luckily, Mrs. Lynde came in presently, bailing them out. "Tea's been ready five minutes, what *have* you all been discussing that was so absorbing?"
"Oh, pigs and pores, Mrs. Lynde, pigs and pores," Anne responded flippantly, glad to be rid of the awkward situation.
"And infatuation," David added. He pulled Davy off the to side as everyone filed into the sitting room. "Davy, lad, you're a man after my own heart. You really have a knack for posing the difficult question, don't you? I like that. Sit next to me at tea."
Davy grinned.
David bent down closer to the boy. "Now, there are several things we must do to make dinner as uncomfortable as possible. You've already given us a great lead-in, but I'll still need your help." He began to whisper in his ear.
"Be ready to laugh a fit to kill," he concluded, tousling Davy's hair.
**********
Post-Author's Note: Okay, sorry, that was pretty fluffy, I'd intended the chapter to be meatier, but I don't have time to write the whole tea scene right now, so I figured I'd just split it up. Review please, as always! :)