Chapter 31
After Christmas, they went to Avonlea. There they would stay for New Year's Day. The small village was covered with snow and ice. Anne enjoyed the drive from the station to Avonlea. Wrapped in blankets, they sat in the sleigh, which Fred Wright had met them with. They listened to the panting of the horse.
"Isn't it beautiful here?" Anne sighed and Gilbert, laughing, lay his arm round her shoulder.
The Blythes and Diana welcomed them warmly. Diana hadn't come to the station, because she was pregnant. Anne hugged her friend and both started to laugh, as Diana's fat belly disturbed their hug a bit.
The sun shone the next day. It was a cold winter day, but the air was clear. In the afternoon, Anne, Gilbert, Sarah, Fred, and Diana went skating. The lake was frozen and they had a lot of fun. Diana watched the funny activities from the shore. But after a while, its got cold and Diana wanted go home. Sarah had a red nose, too. But Anne still wouldn't go home. Finally Anne and Gilbert decided to stay for a while. Hand in hand they skated over the ice.
"Let us go for a stroll," Anne pleaded as they unbuckled the runners. "It's so beautiful here."
Gilbert nodded and took her hand. Slowly the sun set, as they walked through the snow. Unconsciously, they walked to Green Gables.
Suddenly, they saw the house with the green gables in front of them. Anne stopped and blinked: "It is still so beautiful, as I remember." In silence both stared to the house. No noise could be heard. No light was in the empty windows. No smoke was coming out of the chimney.
"Somehow it makes me sad to see Green Gables so empty. Why doesn't live someone here? It is a pity to let such a beautiful house be empty." Anne murmured.
Gilbert laid his arm round her waist: "I don't know, Anne. I guess Mr. Sadler has bought it. But he was more interested in the land than in the house."
Anne nodded thoughtfully.
Suddenly Gilbert had an idea: "Yes, that's it! Why didn't I have this idea earlier?" He thought. Finally his plan was perfect, now he knew what to do. He kissed Anne on the top of her head and grinned.
"What do you think, Dad?" Gilbert asked his father as they sat together in the parlour, the next day.
Mr. Blythe filled his pipe and nodded approval: "It is a good idea. Your mother will be happy to hear this."
"But please don't tell her too soon, Dad. She might accidentally give the secret away to Anne. I want to make sure everything is right before I tell her."
"I won't say anything, honest. I will speak about it when you two are back in Halifax. All right?" Mr. Blythe asked grinning.
"Well maybe you could speak with Mr. Sadler. You know him and." Gilbert stopped abruptly, as Anne entered the room.
"Oh, my favourite daughter-in-law is coming." Mr. Blythe said hastily.
"I'm your only daughter-in-law, Dad." Anne laughed and sat down. She looked at both of them and asked: "Have you two any secrets? It seems I have interrupted you."
"There can't be a better interruption." Gilbert answered and kissed her cheek.
Questioning, Anne looked to him. But Mr. Blythe diverted at once: "Will you two go to the New Year's Eve ball in Carmody? It is the most important event in Avonlea. I have heard the Pyes have provided the ball this year. Certainly, they are very proud of it." Thankful for this diversion, Gilbert started to speak about it, too.
The ball was a huge success. Although Josie Pye glanced at Anne angrily, Anne enjoyed the event. She loved Avonlea and the inhabitants. Unfortunately, they had to leave Avonlea soon. Here, she had many friends and in Halifax she was often alone.
After Christmas, they went to Avonlea. There they would stay for New Year's Day. The small village was covered with snow and ice. Anne enjoyed the drive from the station to Avonlea. Wrapped in blankets, they sat in the sleigh, which Fred Wright had met them with. They listened to the panting of the horse.
"Isn't it beautiful here?" Anne sighed and Gilbert, laughing, lay his arm round her shoulder.
The Blythes and Diana welcomed them warmly. Diana hadn't come to the station, because she was pregnant. Anne hugged her friend and both started to laugh, as Diana's fat belly disturbed their hug a bit.
The sun shone the next day. It was a cold winter day, but the air was clear. In the afternoon, Anne, Gilbert, Sarah, Fred, and Diana went skating. The lake was frozen and they had a lot of fun. Diana watched the funny activities from the shore. But after a while, its got cold and Diana wanted go home. Sarah had a red nose, too. But Anne still wouldn't go home. Finally Anne and Gilbert decided to stay for a while. Hand in hand they skated over the ice.
"Let us go for a stroll," Anne pleaded as they unbuckled the runners. "It's so beautiful here."
Gilbert nodded and took her hand. Slowly the sun set, as they walked through the snow. Unconsciously, they walked to Green Gables.
Suddenly, they saw the house with the green gables in front of them. Anne stopped and blinked: "It is still so beautiful, as I remember." In silence both stared to the house. No noise could be heard. No light was in the empty windows. No smoke was coming out of the chimney.
"Somehow it makes me sad to see Green Gables so empty. Why doesn't live someone here? It is a pity to let such a beautiful house be empty." Anne murmured.
Gilbert laid his arm round her waist: "I don't know, Anne. I guess Mr. Sadler has bought it. But he was more interested in the land than in the house."
Anne nodded thoughtfully.
Suddenly Gilbert had an idea: "Yes, that's it! Why didn't I have this idea earlier?" He thought. Finally his plan was perfect, now he knew what to do. He kissed Anne on the top of her head and grinned.
"What do you think, Dad?" Gilbert asked his father as they sat together in the parlour, the next day.
Mr. Blythe filled his pipe and nodded approval: "It is a good idea. Your mother will be happy to hear this."
"But please don't tell her too soon, Dad. She might accidentally give the secret away to Anne. I want to make sure everything is right before I tell her."
"I won't say anything, honest. I will speak about it when you two are back in Halifax. All right?" Mr. Blythe asked grinning.
"Well maybe you could speak with Mr. Sadler. You know him and." Gilbert stopped abruptly, as Anne entered the room.
"Oh, my favourite daughter-in-law is coming." Mr. Blythe said hastily.
"I'm your only daughter-in-law, Dad." Anne laughed and sat down. She looked at both of them and asked: "Have you two any secrets? It seems I have interrupted you."
"There can't be a better interruption." Gilbert answered and kissed her cheek.
Questioning, Anne looked to him. But Mr. Blythe diverted at once: "Will you two go to the New Year's Eve ball in Carmody? It is the most important event in Avonlea. I have heard the Pyes have provided the ball this year. Certainly, they are very proud of it." Thankful for this diversion, Gilbert started to speak about it, too.
The ball was a huge success. Although Josie Pye glanced at Anne angrily, Anne enjoyed the event. She loved Avonlea and the inhabitants. Unfortunately, they had to leave Avonlea soon. Here, she had many friends and in Halifax she was often alone.
