Chapter Seven
Mrs. Holbrook stayed true to her word. She went promptly to Mr. Philips to say that Anne and Sara should be seated at opposite sides of the room. Sara was forced to walk on the Birch Path by herself because she was closer and Anne was forced to the main road, which Sara knew gave no scope for imagination in Anne.
Sara didn't like going by way of the Birch Path all by her lonesome. It was very beautiful in autumn, but what was the use of it if you didn't have your bosom friend to share it with?
Mr. Philips luckily resigned by the end of October because of a student scandal in Mr. William Bell's field where no one was allowed to trespass on his private property.
In the first week of November, a new teacher came. Sara was particularly excited about this because there were rumors that it was going to be woman teacher.
Sara walked in that morning and sat in her usual seat in the back with Gertie Pye. She had been forced to sit there by Mr. Philips and it was torture. As she had told Jane Andrews, "Gertie always cheats. But she doesn't cheat just to cheat, she just does it because she's a Pye."
Poor Anne was made to sit with Gilbert. It didn't help her "Carrots" situation in the least. In fact, Sara noticed Anne was more hostile to him. They were both rivals in all subjects, from English to history. Sara knew that Anne's one fault was geometry. But with Gilbert there, there was no problem in the least. Sara had difficulties keeping her studies up to their usual high standards, as well.
On the first morning of the new teacher, the classroom buzzed with excitement. When the door opened, Sara watched with bated breath. A dark- haired woman turned to the hat stand and took off her coat and hat, then turned to face the class.
"Hello, class," the new teacher had a lovely cheerful voice and a kind smile. She walked to the board and wrote Miss Muriel Stacey. "Oh, what a lovely name!" Sara thought. Anne must have thought so too because Sara heard an inward breath come from one of the front rows.
"Well, I'm very glad to be here with you all. I know that you will strive for your best this year. By the end of it, I will make sure that you will all be the brightest, most imaginative students in all of Prince Edward Island."
At this speech, Sara smiled inwardly. She loved Miss Stacey already and could tell that it was going to be a very interesting year.
And it was. It started out very well. On Wednesdays there were field days, where they went outside and studied nature. One of the younger students, Julia Bell, found a bird's nest in one of the trees one day, and they studied that for a few hours. They also did exercises, complete with stretching and running, to be in good shape. They learned more about the history of the Island and of European history.
One class during geometry, Sara was very bored, as all students are apt to be. She had been reading a novel called Ben Hur. She was right at the chariot race and couldn't wait to see how it ended. She was sure Ben- Hur would win, but she had to read it anyhow. So she conveniently propped up her math book over her Ben-Hur book and it looked as if she were studying geometry. But she got so immersed in it that her history book fell and Miss Stacey noticed. She walked over and slowly took the book out of Sara's hands. Sara gulped, while Miss Stacey said, "See me after class, Sara."
At the end of the day, Sara made her way through the rows of desks to the black board.
Miss Stacey handed the novel back to Sara.
"Now, I'm giving this back to you because I know you won't do it again."
Sara looked crestfallen, yet surprised that Miss Stacey had given her the book back.
"Oh, now, Sara, you know I want to encourage you to read, but not during geometry class." Miss Stacey smiled and Sara no longer felt shy.
"I just had to find out how the chariot race ended. I was so curious and geometry just didn't seem very comforting and interesting."
Miss Stacey laughed, "Well, I never liked geometry either as a girl. Here, why I don't I walk you home? I've got to talk to your mother about something anyway."
Sara's stomach lurched.
"I haven't been with Anne at all."
"It's not about that, though I have had a visit from your mother about it. Don't worry, Sara. It's good news."
Sara cheered up right away and had a new kind of respect for Miss Stacey. She felt she could tell Miss Stacey anything.
"I do miss Anne so much. I'm so afraid we'll never be friends again. I wish there was a way," Sara gazed out at the pine copses over the hill as they strolled down the dirt road.
"Oh, there's always a bend in the road. Remember, tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it."
"Well, no mistakes in it yet," Sara added.
"Yes," the teacher chuckled, "and about this Anne situation, don't worry about it so much, the truth will set you free."
"The truth will set you free," Sara echoed dreamily, "That's lovely, Miss Stacey."
"It is, isn't it? I got it from a book once."
When they arrived at Holbrook farm, Sara ran ahead to open the door and set the teakettle on the stove. Mrs. Holbrook greeted Miss Stacey very nicely. Rumors flew around that Miss Stacey was the best teacher they had had in Avonlea in a long time. Resources probably from Mrs. Lynde.
"I hope Sara hasn't been neglecting her studies because of Anne," Mrs. Holbrook said worriedly.
"Oh, no, quite the contrary, ma'am, Sara is doing simply excellent work. Which is why I'm here, Mrs. Holbrook."
At this point, Sara came in with two steaming cups of tea. Mrs. Holbrook shifted in her chair.
"I was wondering, I'm starting an after-school group for those who are interested in taking the entrance for Queens College."
Mrs. Holbrook gasped, "Our Sara? Oh, that would be wonderful! What do you think Sara?"
Sara jumped up and clasped her hands together. This had been her dream, or at least it had been ever since she had heard Jane and Ruby talking about entering.
"Oh, could I?"
"Why, of course! When does it start?" Mrs. Holbrook addressed Miss Stacey, who smiled.
"Next week, after-school Tuesday."
"Wonderful. Sara may go, if she likes."
"Very good, I'll see you there then Sara."
Sara nodded and, shaking with excitement ran upstairs to her room. She hadn't written for many weeks since the absence of Anne and now she collapsed on her window seat and bent over to pull her notebook out from under the cushion. She ran out the back door and to the Dryad's Bubble. Wonderful thoughts ran through her head. She sat hurriedly on the cold grey rock and poured out her soul to the trees.
And so it was set. The Queens group would include Jane Andrews, Charlie Sloane, Gilbert Blythe, Ruby Gillis, Anne Shirley, Moody Spurgeon, Josie Pye, and Sara Holbrook. The first day, everyone was very excited. They were allowed to start studying the "branches", which consisted of Latin, advanced geometry, French and algebra.
Sara watched Anne struggle through her geometry and herself french. It was all very difficult, yet exciting.
Weeks passed. Sara's workload did not lessen as November turned to December. Not only was she busy, but so were her parents.
"Now, Sara take care of them, especially Danny, we'll be back from the seminar before supper tomorrow."
"I hope you have a lovely time. Do you think you'll meet the prime minister?"
"Oh, if Rachel Lynde has anything to do with it, we'll more than meet him."
Sara stifled a laugh and helped her mother with her coat.
"Be good, Elizabeth, get lots of rest, you look terrible worn out!" Mrs. Holbrook shouted behind her as she walked down the front steps to where Mr. Holbrook was waiting with the carriage.
Sara looked over at Elizabeth, she did look rather pale.
"Let's sit you down for a while, that cough hasn't sounded good lately," Sara steered her sister to the chair by the fire.
"Here, to entertain yourself, you can work on your patchwork. Wait, Danny, no, don't play with that!"
Sara was let alone with these five hoodlums for twenty-four hours. She wiped her forehead and proceeded into the kitchen.
A little while later, a terrible rasping sound filled the air from the sitting room.
Sara flew in and saw Elizabeth clutching her throat, coughing.
"Are you all right, dearest?"
Elizabeth, coughed a little bit and then said, "Just got something in my throat," and she smiled at Sara.
Sara was unsure, but she walked back to the kitchen to finish feeding Danny. Every once and a while, she'd hear that sound. But after about five minutes, it would stop.
After about six times, Elizabeth wouldn't stop coughing. Sara ran back into the sitting room for the seventh time. She tried patting her sister on the back hard, to loosen it. When that didn't work, she laid Elizabeth on the couch. Sara could tell it was getting harder and harder for her to breathe. She felt her forehead, Elizabeth's face was clammy and hot. She started to get panicky. What was it? What if...? Then she had a sudden inspiration.
"Peter!" she screamed. Peter came running down the stairs and slipped on Danny's toy doll. He fell and flipped to the bottom.
"Damn those toys!" he cried, rubbing his bottom.
"Peter!" Sara cried, surprised, then, "Come on, Elizabeth's sick. I think it's the croup, and I'm gonna get help. Stay with her!"
Sara grabbed her coat, scarf, gloves and hat, and pulled on her boots. Then she ran over the fields into the cold night air. The snow was falling thickly and the apple orchards and Idlewild would have looked quite frightening if Sara hadn't been so worried. She stumbled over the frozen bridge and into the backyard of Green Gables. She knew Marilla had gone to the seminar as well, but Anne and Matthew were sure to be there.
She burst into the warm, bright Green Gables kitchen.
"Anne! Anne!" she cried. Anne came rushing into the kitchen with Matthew following behind her. His stone grey hair fell to his shoulders and his old features were fixed into a worried expression.
"Has your mother relented?" Anne asked excitedly.
"No, but Elizabeth's awful sick with the croup and we don't know what to do."
Matthew turned and went quickly into the parlor and out the front door.
"Matthew went to the doctor," Anne said, grabbing her coat, "We're such kindred spirits, I can read his thoughts."
Anne rushed over to the medicine cabinet and grabbed a bottle labeled Ipecac. "I know just what to do for the croup."
They ran outside into the snow.
"When I was at Mrs. Hammond's," Anne shouted while she ran, "all the twins had croup regularly, and it was I who nursed them, Sara."
They reached Holbrook farm and ran into the back door.
"Peter, how's she doing?" Sara didn't stop to take off her coat. Anne knelt down and felt Elizabeth's pulse, throat and forehead.
"She's pretty bad. But I've seen worse."
She unscrewed the bottle and slowly poured some liquid down her throat.
"Sara, go and boil some water on the stove. And Peter, you get a change of clothes and wash-cloths."
All the siblings were in there now, watching, with big eyes at the sick girl. Katie checked periodically out the window for the doctor, but always came back shaking her head.
Into the night, they waited and took care of Elizabeth. Anne shouted out instructions and they followed blindly, extremely worried.
At about half past three in the morning, when Elizabeth had quieted down and Katie, Danny, and Teddy had fallen asleep, there was a creak and the front door opened to Matthew and a doctor.
Matthew told Anne he had to go all the way to Carmody to find one, everyone was at the seminar.
"I gave her the last of the medicine an hour ago. It wasn't until she coughed up the phlegm, that she really began to improve," Anne looked over the doctor and Matthew. The doctor rushed over to Elizabeth, now sleeping on the couch. He checked her pulse and her temperature. He turned warily to the exhausted Anne and Sara by the fire and gave a sigh.
"She would have been gone by the time I got here. You saved this little girl's life."
Sara gripped Anne's shoulder in relief. She pulled Anne into a hard hug.
"Thank you, thank you," she whispered into her ear.
Mrs. Holbrook stayed true to her word. She went promptly to Mr. Philips to say that Anne and Sara should be seated at opposite sides of the room. Sara was forced to walk on the Birch Path by herself because she was closer and Anne was forced to the main road, which Sara knew gave no scope for imagination in Anne.
Sara didn't like going by way of the Birch Path all by her lonesome. It was very beautiful in autumn, but what was the use of it if you didn't have your bosom friend to share it with?
Mr. Philips luckily resigned by the end of October because of a student scandal in Mr. William Bell's field where no one was allowed to trespass on his private property.
In the first week of November, a new teacher came. Sara was particularly excited about this because there were rumors that it was going to be woman teacher.
Sara walked in that morning and sat in her usual seat in the back with Gertie Pye. She had been forced to sit there by Mr. Philips and it was torture. As she had told Jane Andrews, "Gertie always cheats. But she doesn't cheat just to cheat, she just does it because she's a Pye."
Poor Anne was made to sit with Gilbert. It didn't help her "Carrots" situation in the least. In fact, Sara noticed Anne was more hostile to him. They were both rivals in all subjects, from English to history. Sara knew that Anne's one fault was geometry. But with Gilbert there, there was no problem in the least. Sara had difficulties keeping her studies up to their usual high standards, as well.
On the first morning of the new teacher, the classroom buzzed with excitement. When the door opened, Sara watched with bated breath. A dark- haired woman turned to the hat stand and took off her coat and hat, then turned to face the class.
"Hello, class," the new teacher had a lovely cheerful voice and a kind smile. She walked to the board and wrote Miss Muriel Stacey. "Oh, what a lovely name!" Sara thought. Anne must have thought so too because Sara heard an inward breath come from one of the front rows.
"Well, I'm very glad to be here with you all. I know that you will strive for your best this year. By the end of it, I will make sure that you will all be the brightest, most imaginative students in all of Prince Edward Island."
At this speech, Sara smiled inwardly. She loved Miss Stacey already and could tell that it was going to be a very interesting year.
And it was. It started out very well. On Wednesdays there were field days, where they went outside and studied nature. One of the younger students, Julia Bell, found a bird's nest in one of the trees one day, and they studied that for a few hours. They also did exercises, complete with stretching and running, to be in good shape. They learned more about the history of the Island and of European history.
One class during geometry, Sara was very bored, as all students are apt to be. She had been reading a novel called Ben Hur. She was right at the chariot race and couldn't wait to see how it ended. She was sure Ben- Hur would win, but she had to read it anyhow. So she conveniently propped up her math book over her Ben-Hur book and it looked as if she were studying geometry. But she got so immersed in it that her history book fell and Miss Stacey noticed. She walked over and slowly took the book out of Sara's hands. Sara gulped, while Miss Stacey said, "See me after class, Sara."
At the end of the day, Sara made her way through the rows of desks to the black board.
Miss Stacey handed the novel back to Sara.
"Now, I'm giving this back to you because I know you won't do it again."
Sara looked crestfallen, yet surprised that Miss Stacey had given her the book back.
"Oh, now, Sara, you know I want to encourage you to read, but not during geometry class." Miss Stacey smiled and Sara no longer felt shy.
"I just had to find out how the chariot race ended. I was so curious and geometry just didn't seem very comforting and interesting."
Miss Stacey laughed, "Well, I never liked geometry either as a girl. Here, why I don't I walk you home? I've got to talk to your mother about something anyway."
Sara's stomach lurched.
"I haven't been with Anne at all."
"It's not about that, though I have had a visit from your mother about it. Don't worry, Sara. It's good news."
Sara cheered up right away and had a new kind of respect for Miss Stacey. She felt she could tell Miss Stacey anything.
"I do miss Anne so much. I'm so afraid we'll never be friends again. I wish there was a way," Sara gazed out at the pine copses over the hill as they strolled down the dirt road.
"Oh, there's always a bend in the road. Remember, tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it."
"Well, no mistakes in it yet," Sara added.
"Yes," the teacher chuckled, "and about this Anne situation, don't worry about it so much, the truth will set you free."
"The truth will set you free," Sara echoed dreamily, "That's lovely, Miss Stacey."
"It is, isn't it? I got it from a book once."
When they arrived at Holbrook farm, Sara ran ahead to open the door and set the teakettle on the stove. Mrs. Holbrook greeted Miss Stacey very nicely. Rumors flew around that Miss Stacey was the best teacher they had had in Avonlea in a long time. Resources probably from Mrs. Lynde.
"I hope Sara hasn't been neglecting her studies because of Anne," Mrs. Holbrook said worriedly.
"Oh, no, quite the contrary, ma'am, Sara is doing simply excellent work. Which is why I'm here, Mrs. Holbrook."
At this point, Sara came in with two steaming cups of tea. Mrs. Holbrook shifted in her chair.
"I was wondering, I'm starting an after-school group for those who are interested in taking the entrance for Queens College."
Mrs. Holbrook gasped, "Our Sara? Oh, that would be wonderful! What do you think Sara?"
Sara jumped up and clasped her hands together. This had been her dream, or at least it had been ever since she had heard Jane and Ruby talking about entering.
"Oh, could I?"
"Why, of course! When does it start?" Mrs. Holbrook addressed Miss Stacey, who smiled.
"Next week, after-school Tuesday."
"Wonderful. Sara may go, if she likes."
"Very good, I'll see you there then Sara."
Sara nodded and, shaking with excitement ran upstairs to her room. She hadn't written for many weeks since the absence of Anne and now she collapsed on her window seat and bent over to pull her notebook out from under the cushion. She ran out the back door and to the Dryad's Bubble. Wonderful thoughts ran through her head. She sat hurriedly on the cold grey rock and poured out her soul to the trees.
And so it was set. The Queens group would include Jane Andrews, Charlie Sloane, Gilbert Blythe, Ruby Gillis, Anne Shirley, Moody Spurgeon, Josie Pye, and Sara Holbrook. The first day, everyone was very excited. They were allowed to start studying the "branches", which consisted of Latin, advanced geometry, French and algebra.
Sara watched Anne struggle through her geometry and herself french. It was all very difficult, yet exciting.
Weeks passed. Sara's workload did not lessen as November turned to December. Not only was she busy, but so were her parents.
"Now, Sara take care of them, especially Danny, we'll be back from the seminar before supper tomorrow."
"I hope you have a lovely time. Do you think you'll meet the prime minister?"
"Oh, if Rachel Lynde has anything to do with it, we'll more than meet him."
Sara stifled a laugh and helped her mother with her coat.
"Be good, Elizabeth, get lots of rest, you look terrible worn out!" Mrs. Holbrook shouted behind her as she walked down the front steps to where Mr. Holbrook was waiting with the carriage.
Sara looked over at Elizabeth, she did look rather pale.
"Let's sit you down for a while, that cough hasn't sounded good lately," Sara steered her sister to the chair by the fire.
"Here, to entertain yourself, you can work on your patchwork. Wait, Danny, no, don't play with that!"
Sara was let alone with these five hoodlums for twenty-four hours. She wiped her forehead and proceeded into the kitchen.
A little while later, a terrible rasping sound filled the air from the sitting room.
Sara flew in and saw Elizabeth clutching her throat, coughing.
"Are you all right, dearest?"
Elizabeth, coughed a little bit and then said, "Just got something in my throat," and she smiled at Sara.
Sara was unsure, but she walked back to the kitchen to finish feeding Danny. Every once and a while, she'd hear that sound. But after about five minutes, it would stop.
After about six times, Elizabeth wouldn't stop coughing. Sara ran back into the sitting room for the seventh time. She tried patting her sister on the back hard, to loosen it. When that didn't work, she laid Elizabeth on the couch. Sara could tell it was getting harder and harder for her to breathe. She felt her forehead, Elizabeth's face was clammy and hot. She started to get panicky. What was it? What if...? Then she had a sudden inspiration.
"Peter!" she screamed. Peter came running down the stairs and slipped on Danny's toy doll. He fell and flipped to the bottom.
"Damn those toys!" he cried, rubbing his bottom.
"Peter!" Sara cried, surprised, then, "Come on, Elizabeth's sick. I think it's the croup, and I'm gonna get help. Stay with her!"
Sara grabbed her coat, scarf, gloves and hat, and pulled on her boots. Then she ran over the fields into the cold night air. The snow was falling thickly and the apple orchards and Idlewild would have looked quite frightening if Sara hadn't been so worried. She stumbled over the frozen bridge and into the backyard of Green Gables. She knew Marilla had gone to the seminar as well, but Anne and Matthew were sure to be there.
She burst into the warm, bright Green Gables kitchen.
"Anne! Anne!" she cried. Anne came rushing into the kitchen with Matthew following behind her. His stone grey hair fell to his shoulders and his old features were fixed into a worried expression.
"Has your mother relented?" Anne asked excitedly.
"No, but Elizabeth's awful sick with the croup and we don't know what to do."
Matthew turned and went quickly into the parlor and out the front door.
"Matthew went to the doctor," Anne said, grabbing her coat, "We're such kindred spirits, I can read his thoughts."
Anne rushed over to the medicine cabinet and grabbed a bottle labeled Ipecac. "I know just what to do for the croup."
They ran outside into the snow.
"When I was at Mrs. Hammond's," Anne shouted while she ran, "all the twins had croup regularly, and it was I who nursed them, Sara."
They reached Holbrook farm and ran into the back door.
"Peter, how's she doing?" Sara didn't stop to take off her coat. Anne knelt down and felt Elizabeth's pulse, throat and forehead.
"She's pretty bad. But I've seen worse."
She unscrewed the bottle and slowly poured some liquid down her throat.
"Sara, go and boil some water on the stove. And Peter, you get a change of clothes and wash-cloths."
All the siblings were in there now, watching, with big eyes at the sick girl. Katie checked periodically out the window for the doctor, but always came back shaking her head.
Into the night, they waited and took care of Elizabeth. Anne shouted out instructions and they followed blindly, extremely worried.
At about half past three in the morning, when Elizabeth had quieted down and Katie, Danny, and Teddy had fallen asleep, there was a creak and the front door opened to Matthew and a doctor.
Matthew told Anne he had to go all the way to Carmody to find one, everyone was at the seminar.
"I gave her the last of the medicine an hour ago. It wasn't until she coughed up the phlegm, that she really began to improve," Anne looked over the doctor and Matthew. The doctor rushed over to Elizabeth, now sleeping on the couch. He checked her pulse and her temperature. He turned warily to the exhausted Anne and Sara by the fire and gave a sigh.
"She would have been gone by the time I got here. You saved this little girl's life."
Sara gripped Anne's shoulder in relief. She pulled Anne into a hard hug.
"Thank you, thank you," she whispered into her ear.
