The next day Anne and her children picked apples in the old orchard.
"I'm sure, Marilla will bake us a great apple cake." Anne said as they gathered together the apples in the basket.
"O I like apple cake," Nan beamed.
They were having so much fun that, for a while, their problems were forgotten.
"Hello!" called Diana standing at the fence and laughing. Diana, having been mildly ill hadn't been to Green Gables for a week. She didn't know what had happened after the picnic.
At once Anne's children went to play with little Fred and Anne-Cordelia.
"I'm so glad that I'm better. I hate lying in bed," she chatted as she came towards Anne. "You can't imagine, how." Suddenly, she stopped walking as she noticed Anne's black eye.
Indeed it was no longer swollen, but still discolored enough to see it immediately.
"God Anne! What happened?"
After they had sat down on the porch stair, Anne told her what had happened.
"That's the absolute limit! Anne, don't you dare go back, no matter what! The man is crazy. I'm glad Gilbert hit him." Diana was getting excited.
"Don't worry, Diana. I'm not going back. I've even thought about a divorce. But."
"No but! You need a lawyer!" Diana squeezed her hand encouragingly.
The conversation ended as the children came running to them.
"Mommy! Fred said that there's going to be a party in the village soon, can we go? There's gonna be ice cream and a clown and everything." Walter said breathlessly.
Nan clasped her hands.
"Please, Mommy we want to go." Both children looked up at her with their very best puppy dog eyes.
Anne looked at Diana questioningly.
"The party is in two weeks. It is the first time that it isn't only a picnic." Diana explained.
Anne smiled at the kids: "I think we should go."
Filled with happiness the children hugged their mother.
"Do you think Dr. Blythe will come with us?" Walter asked.
"I don't know, Walter." Anne answered.
"Then, I'll ask him, now." Walter jumped up and Anne noticed that Gilbert was indeed coming towards the house.
Walter and Nan ran to him and Gilbert listen attentively their words. Walter came running back: "Mommy, he said he'll come with us." Walter beamed.
Gilbert took Nan in his arms and came to Anne and Diana. Anne's eyes sparkled as she looked into Gils face, and Gilbert smiled.
Diana felt that something was going on between both. As the children began playing again, Diana said: "Anne you should really do, what we talked about."
"You can say it aloud, Diana. Gilbert knows about my trouble with Roy."
"Oh, yes. I forgot he was here at the.ah. incident."
"Diana thinks I should talk with a lawyer." Anne explained as Gilbert looked questioningly at her.
"That's a good idea." He agreed.
"Fred knows a really good lawyer in Charlottetown. I'm sure he can set an appointment for you. But, Anne you need to tell him everything. Okay?"
"Sure, Diana," Anne sighed.
"I need to go, now. I'll let you know about the date." Diana said goodbye.
The children helped Marilla work in the garden, and Anne and Gilbert started a walk.
"What are you thinking of?" Gilbert asked, as Anne was very silent.
"I'm thinking about the lawyer. I'm afraid. Maybe, you could. will you come with me? O-only if you want, of course."
Gilbert gently took her hand and looked in her eyes.
"Of course, I'll come with you, if you want. I'll do anything for you, Anne."
Embarrassed Anne looked to the ground. With his hand he lifted smiling her chin up and looked in her eyes. "It is true, Anne. Because, I love you."
****** One week later Anne and Gilbert went to Charlottetown. The office of Mr. Lewis was on Main Street. The people here were very busy; they hurried industriously from shop to shop. The law office was in an old brick house. On the gate was a huge nameplate:
"Attorney Robert Lewis - lawsuits for everything".
Anne looked nervously at the door.
"Don't be worry! Everything will be all right!" Gilbert said encouragingly.
Anne was very thankful for his help.
A lady guided them into a big office.
"Mr. Lewis will be in momentarily," she breathed and left them alone.
Anne went to the window and looked down to the crowded street. The business from the people and the carriages reminded Anne of her pulse, blood pumping at top speed through her arteries. She smiled bravely at Gil, as he looked concernedly at her.
"You must be Mrs. Gardner," a small, thick, man came into the room. He wore an elegant suit, glasses, and his hairline was receding. He offered Anne his hand and smiled: "I'm Mr. Lewis."
"This is Dr. Blythe. He is a good friend." Anne said.
"Well," Mr. Lewis murmured busily. "Please sit down."
He sat down behind his desk and searched after paper and a pen. His secretary came in and brought some papers. "No interruptions, Hannah," ordered Mr. Lewis.
"Well, Mrs. Gardner. I know from Mr. Wright that you want a divorce from your husband. Something must be clear; you really must tell me everything. No secrets! I don't want a surprise in court."
"Court?" Anne asked nervously.
"Of course. Most of these cases are decided through a law-court. I guess, you want this divorce, Mrs. Gardner. Do you believe your husband will simply agree?" Mr. Lewis asked.
Anne thought about it. No! Roy wouldn't simply agree.
"No, I don't think so." She answered quietly.
"Mrs. Gardner, if you want to do this, I need as much information as possible. We need to show the judge that it is impossible for you to live with your husband. All right?"
Anne nodded.
"Well," Mr. Lewis rubbed his hands. "We should begin. I'll ask you some questions, now, and you should try to answer exactly. Don't be shocked if I sometimes sound unfriendly. But, the judge and your husband's lawyer will do this, too."
Gilbert squeezed her hand under the table.
"You've been married to Roy Gardener for how long?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"6 years."
"Have you any children?"
"Yes, two. Walter is five and Nan is three years old."
"Well, now as to the reason for the divorce. Mr. Wright said he had beaten you, correct?"
Anne nodded silently.
"I believe he also spoke of." Mr. Lewis hunts in his papers. "Oh, yes. Adultery was the other point."
Surprised Gilbert looked to Anne. She hadn't told him that before.
"Your husband had deceived you?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"Yes"
"Was this a single occurrence?"
"No, it happened often." Anne answered quietly.
Gilbert couldn't believe it. How could Roy deceive this fantastic woman?
"All right, I think you should tell me everything," Mr. Lewis listened Anne's story and didn't interrupt her. Meanwhile, Gilbert was growing angrier and angrier with Roy.
"But, what happened to make you finally decide to leave him? You've been married for 6 years, why now?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"Don't you think this all is enough reason?" Gilbert asked infuriated back.
"Certainly, Dr. Blythe. But if possible it's best to give a reason in such cases. What happened Mrs. Gardner?"
Anne gulped: "It wasn't important to me, if Roy had some affairs. I only wanted to hide this all from my children. They shouldn't know anything. Then one evening Roy came home late; I had already gone to bed, but I could hear him laughing down the hall. I heard another laugh too. So, I got up and went downstairs. I found Roy with some woman in the parlor. They were laughing and kissing each other. I flew into a rage; how dare he bring his affair into our house! Roy was terribly angry and started yelling. The woman left the house. Roy just kept yelling at me .saying these terrible, awful words. I decided that it was enough, and I told him that I was leaving the house the next morning. For a moment he didn't say anything, so I ran up the stairs and started to pack. Roy overcame his shock pretty quickly and just came storming into the room. He was shouting and shouting, saying that if I wanted to leave, I could go at once, and he grabbed my arm, dragged me to the stairs, and shoved. I fell down the entire flight of stairs, breaking my arm. By the time I managed to get up he wasn't there. I finally found him, completely passed out on the bed. I don't know how long I sat there, just staring; I think it was some hours. I didn't trust myself to move. Eventually though, I snuck back to the room and packed my bag. Then, I packed some things for the children. After breakfast we left the house."
The office was completely silent.
"I think that this is enough for today. I'll send the papers to your husband." Mr. Lewis said.
"Do you think we'll have any difficulties?" Gilbert asked and grabbed Anne's hand again.
"I'm sure any judge would believe Mrs. Gardner. But, I think we'll still have some trouble with Mr. Gardner and his lawyer. It doesn't sound as if he'll be reasonable. But we will do it." He smiled at Anne. ******
Anne was very relieved, as they left the office.
"We still have two hours, until the train departure. What should we do?" Gilbert asked.
"Maybe, we can find a quiet place to relax."
They found a bench a little bit off the park. Anne sat down with a sigh: "I'm so relieved that it is almost over now. That takes a load off my mind." She laughed and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm so sorry that you've suffered so much. I can't understand, how anyone could do all of this, especially Roy who had the most wonderful woman in the world."
Anne blushed: "You're exaggerating, Gil. I have so many faults. I'm stubborn, I'm too impulsive, and I can't hold my mouth shut for more than five seconds and many more. And on top of it all, I have red hair. I'm not wonderful."
"You are. You are lovely, intelligent, and beautiful, you can make anyone smile, and you are passionate. You are so much, Anne. And the important point - you are the woman, who has my heart. And I love your hair - Carrots."
"Gilbert Blythe, should I search for a slate to break over your head?"
Gilbert grinned: "I only like to tease you, Anne-girl."
"I know, and I love you for that, too, Gilbert Blythe," Anne answered and kissed him.
"I'm sure, Marilla will bake us a great apple cake." Anne said as they gathered together the apples in the basket.
"O I like apple cake," Nan beamed.
They were having so much fun that, for a while, their problems were forgotten.
"Hello!" called Diana standing at the fence and laughing. Diana, having been mildly ill hadn't been to Green Gables for a week. She didn't know what had happened after the picnic.
At once Anne's children went to play with little Fred and Anne-Cordelia.
"I'm so glad that I'm better. I hate lying in bed," she chatted as she came towards Anne. "You can't imagine, how." Suddenly, she stopped walking as she noticed Anne's black eye.
Indeed it was no longer swollen, but still discolored enough to see it immediately.
"God Anne! What happened?"
After they had sat down on the porch stair, Anne told her what had happened.
"That's the absolute limit! Anne, don't you dare go back, no matter what! The man is crazy. I'm glad Gilbert hit him." Diana was getting excited.
"Don't worry, Diana. I'm not going back. I've even thought about a divorce. But."
"No but! You need a lawyer!" Diana squeezed her hand encouragingly.
The conversation ended as the children came running to them.
"Mommy! Fred said that there's going to be a party in the village soon, can we go? There's gonna be ice cream and a clown and everything." Walter said breathlessly.
Nan clasped her hands.
"Please, Mommy we want to go." Both children looked up at her with their very best puppy dog eyes.
Anne looked at Diana questioningly.
"The party is in two weeks. It is the first time that it isn't only a picnic." Diana explained.
Anne smiled at the kids: "I think we should go."
Filled with happiness the children hugged their mother.
"Do you think Dr. Blythe will come with us?" Walter asked.
"I don't know, Walter." Anne answered.
"Then, I'll ask him, now." Walter jumped up and Anne noticed that Gilbert was indeed coming towards the house.
Walter and Nan ran to him and Gilbert listen attentively their words. Walter came running back: "Mommy, he said he'll come with us." Walter beamed.
Gilbert took Nan in his arms and came to Anne and Diana. Anne's eyes sparkled as she looked into Gils face, and Gilbert smiled.
Diana felt that something was going on between both. As the children began playing again, Diana said: "Anne you should really do, what we talked about."
"You can say it aloud, Diana. Gilbert knows about my trouble with Roy."
"Oh, yes. I forgot he was here at the.ah. incident."
"Diana thinks I should talk with a lawyer." Anne explained as Gilbert looked questioningly at her.
"That's a good idea." He agreed.
"Fred knows a really good lawyer in Charlottetown. I'm sure he can set an appointment for you. But, Anne you need to tell him everything. Okay?"
"Sure, Diana," Anne sighed.
"I need to go, now. I'll let you know about the date." Diana said goodbye.
The children helped Marilla work in the garden, and Anne and Gilbert started a walk.
"What are you thinking of?" Gilbert asked, as Anne was very silent.
"I'm thinking about the lawyer. I'm afraid. Maybe, you could. will you come with me? O-only if you want, of course."
Gilbert gently took her hand and looked in her eyes.
"Of course, I'll come with you, if you want. I'll do anything for you, Anne."
Embarrassed Anne looked to the ground. With his hand he lifted smiling her chin up and looked in her eyes. "It is true, Anne. Because, I love you."
****** One week later Anne and Gilbert went to Charlottetown. The office of Mr. Lewis was on Main Street. The people here were very busy; they hurried industriously from shop to shop. The law office was in an old brick house. On the gate was a huge nameplate:
"Attorney Robert Lewis - lawsuits for everything".
Anne looked nervously at the door.
"Don't be worry! Everything will be all right!" Gilbert said encouragingly.
Anne was very thankful for his help.
A lady guided them into a big office.
"Mr. Lewis will be in momentarily," she breathed and left them alone.
Anne went to the window and looked down to the crowded street. The business from the people and the carriages reminded Anne of her pulse, blood pumping at top speed through her arteries. She smiled bravely at Gil, as he looked concernedly at her.
"You must be Mrs. Gardner," a small, thick, man came into the room. He wore an elegant suit, glasses, and his hairline was receding. He offered Anne his hand and smiled: "I'm Mr. Lewis."
"This is Dr. Blythe. He is a good friend." Anne said.
"Well," Mr. Lewis murmured busily. "Please sit down."
He sat down behind his desk and searched after paper and a pen. His secretary came in and brought some papers. "No interruptions, Hannah," ordered Mr. Lewis.
"Well, Mrs. Gardner. I know from Mr. Wright that you want a divorce from your husband. Something must be clear; you really must tell me everything. No secrets! I don't want a surprise in court."
"Court?" Anne asked nervously.
"Of course. Most of these cases are decided through a law-court. I guess, you want this divorce, Mrs. Gardner. Do you believe your husband will simply agree?" Mr. Lewis asked.
Anne thought about it. No! Roy wouldn't simply agree.
"No, I don't think so." She answered quietly.
"Mrs. Gardner, if you want to do this, I need as much information as possible. We need to show the judge that it is impossible for you to live with your husband. All right?"
Anne nodded.
"Well," Mr. Lewis rubbed his hands. "We should begin. I'll ask you some questions, now, and you should try to answer exactly. Don't be shocked if I sometimes sound unfriendly. But, the judge and your husband's lawyer will do this, too."
Gilbert squeezed her hand under the table.
"You've been married to Roy Gardener for how long?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"6 years."
"Have you any children?"
"Yes, two. Walter is five and Nan is three years old."
"Well, now as to the reason for the divorce. Mr. Wright said he had beaten you, correct?"
Anne nodded silently.
"I believe he also spoke of." Mr. Lewis hunts in his papers. "Oh, yes. Adultery was the other point."
Surprised Gilbert looked to Anne. She hadn't told him that before.
"Your husband had deceived you?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"Yes"
"Was this a single occurrence?"
"No, it happened often." Anne answered quietly.
Gilbert couldn't believe it. How could Roy deceive this fantastic woman?
"All right, I think you should tell me everything," Mr. Lewis listened Anne's story and didn't interrupt her. Meanwhile, Gilbert was growing angrier and angrier with Roy.
"But, what happened to make you finally decide to leave him? You've been married for 6 years, why now?" Mr. Lewis asked.
"Don't you think this all is enough reason?" Gilbert asked infuriated back.
"Certainly, Dr. Blythe. But if possible it's best to give a reason in such cases. What happened Mrs. Gardner?"
Anne gulped: "It wasn't important to me, if Roy had some affairs. I only wanted to hide this all from my children. They shouldn't know anything. Then one evening Roy came home late; I had already gone to bed, but I could hear him laughing down the hall. I heard another laugh too. So, I got up and went downstairs. I found Roy with some woman in the parlor. They were laughing and kissing each other. I flew into a rage; how dare he bring his affair into our house! Roy was terribly angry and started yelling. The woman left the house. Roy just kept yelling at me .saying these terrible, awful words. I decided that it was enough, and I told him that I was leaving the house the next morning. For a moment he didn't say anything, so I ran up the stairs and started to pack. Roy overcame his shock pretty quickly and just came storming into the room. He was shouting and shouting, saying that if I wanted to leave, I could go at once, and he grabbed my arm, dragged me to the stairs, and shoved. I fell down the entire flight of stairs, breaking my arm. By the time I managed to get up he wasn't there. I finally found him, completely passed out on the bed. I don't know how long I sat there, just staring; I think it was some hours. I didn't trust myself to move. Eventually though, I snuck back to the room and packed my bag. Then, I packed some things for the children. After breakfast we left the house."
The office was completely silent.
"I think that this is enough for today. I'll send the papers to your husband." Mr. Lewis said.
"Do you think we'll have any difficulties?" Gilbert asked and grabbed Anne's hand again.
"I'm sure any judge would believe Mrs. Gardner. But, I think we'll still have some trouble with Mr. Gardner and his lawyer. It doesn't sound as if he'll be reasonable. But we will do it." He smiled at Anne. ******
Anne was very relieved, as they left the office.
"We still have two hours, until the train departure. What should we do?" Gilbert asked.
"Maybe, we can find a quiet place to relax."
They found a bench a little bit off the park. Anne sat down with a sigh: "I'm so relieved that it is almost over now. That takes a load off my mind." She laughed and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"I'm so sorry that you've suffered so much. I can't understand, how anyone could do all of this, especially Roy who had the most wonderful woman in the world."
Anne blushed: "You're exaggerating, Gil. I have so many faults. I'm stubborn, I'm too impulsive, and I can't hold my mouth shut for more than five seconds and many more. And on top of it all, I have red hair. I'm not wonderful."
"You are. You are lovely, intelligent, and beautiful, you can make anyone smile, and you are passionate. You are so much, Anne. And the important point - you are the woman, who has my heart. And I love your hair - Carrots."
"Gilbert Blythe, should I search for a slate to break over your head?"
Gilbert grinned: "I only like to tease you, Anne-girl."
"I know, and I love you for that, too, Gilbert Blythe," Anne answered and kissed him.
