Chapter 9

Meanwhile, the arrived at the boarding house. It was a simple one-storied house with a small front yard. A roly-poly with, with red cheeks and an apron, looked out of the window. And came hurry outside. "Miss Shirley, I'm glad that you all right, again." "This is Mrs. Powell, my landlady." Anne explained. They standing in the warm hall and Mrs. Powell chattered cheerful. Suddenly, they heard a loud mew coming from upstairs. "Rusty is here?" Anne asked surprised. "Oh, yes. Since you was away, he wasn't of long expedition. I have feed him at morning and evening. After it, he made a short tour. But 15 minutes later, he was back again. I think he had fear to lit slip you. Than he want up into your room and I let him." Mrs. Powell stroked a rebellious lock away. Again they heard the loud mew. "I should better go upstairs, before he disturbs the neighbours." Laughed Anne. "Yes, go! I make some tea and bring it up to you." Said Mrs. Powell.

Anne went upstairs and Gilbert followed with her suitcase. "I don't know that you have a tom cat." "For a while, I don't know it, too. Some time he followed me, as I walk home and I couldn't get rid of him. Don't be frightened; he isn't a beauty tomcat. But a loyal soul. Even he doesn't like strange people." Anne opened the door and with one leap, jumped a big monstrous out of the room. "Rusty," called Anne and the tomcat stroked round her legs, and purred loud. Rust wasn't really beauty. His coat had an odd colour and a part of his right ear was loosed. Anne entered the room and Rusty followed her. He didn't notice Gilbert, only Anne was important for him.

Gilbert looked around in her room. It was plain, but snug. A small sofa, a desk, shelves with some books, some pictures on the walls. Another door guided to another room, probable to her bedroom. A touch of roses perfume was in the air. Gilbert could imagine Anne in this room very well. It fit to her.

One minute later entered Mrs. Powell the room. She brought a tray with steam tea and fancy cakes. "Well, now eat from my cakes. You haven't anything on your ribs. I must feed you, now. Really she hadn't enough on her ribs before," Mars. Powell said to Gilbert. "She is always as lean as a rank. But I think she is yet thinner, now." "Thanks for the tea," Anne tried to stop her. "No problem, I must do my work, now. And attend that she eats something." Said Mrs. Powell again to Gilbert.

Gilbert laughed, as she closed the door: "It seems, as you be in a well care here." "Mrs. Powell cares well for me." Smiled Anne and reached him a cup of tea. Rusty laid on her leap and looked disparaging to Gil. Suddenly, the big tomcat rise up and went to him. He snuffled on Gilbert's leg, looked up to him and it seems as he wondering what he should think about him. Than he jumped up and lay down on Gilbert's lap. Anne was surprised: "He hasn't done such things before. You are really a kindred spirit, Dr. Blythe." "Don't want you call me rather Gilbert?" He asked, and Anne nodded smiling.