Faith did tell this Mr. Samson Bell how to get to the manse. She would have liked to have told him exactly where to go, but refrained from that. What she didn't tell him was that before they left Ingleside, they had called the manse, and everyone at the manse was going up to Ingleside before Jerry, Nan, and Cecilia left for Avonlea. There would be no one at the manse save Bruce's dog, Wednesday.
As Mr. Samson Bell strutted out the door and toward the manse, Faith and Rilla decided that it was time to leave. Rilla handed Miller some cash then said, "Miller, we'll send Jem or Kenneth for everything later. I think we had better go. Just put everything on our bills."
"Of course," Miller agreed. "Someone needs to get home and see what is going on, that's for sure," he added, thinking that he would need to call Mary that night.
Walter stared down at the shattered heart in disbelief. Finally, he said, "Miller put this on my tab. I need to get the girls home."
So they quickly drove to Ingleside. Faith wondered what her sister could have gotten herself into. Rilla wondered why her brother wore such a pained expression. At Ingleside, Walter pulled to the house, and Faith quickly got out. Rilla took more time, looking at Walter, feeling his hurt.
"Aren't you coming in, Walter?"
He stared out into nowhere. "I-I can't right now Rilla-my-Rilla. I need to think a while, not be around so many people."
She put her hand to his. "I understand, and when you're ready, if you need to talk, you know where to find me."
He smiled to her, he had known hurt before, he just never thought Una would cause it. "I know. Thank you. Go rest yourself. I will be fine. I just need to breathe some sea-air."
"Okay," Rilla agreed as she stepped out of the car.
Walter sped off in such a hurry that he left a cloud of dust and a terrible racket. Rilla just stood there, watching her brother drive off in a hurry. Anne and Nan came out to see what the commotion was.
"Rilla, what happened at the store? Why did Faith just storm in a drag Una upstairs?" Nan asked.
"And why did my son just tear out of here like there's no tomorrow?" Anne added.
Still astonished and confused, Rilla looked to them and said all she knew to say, "I think we should go inside."
Faith did manage to pull Una upstairs and slam the door shut enough to frighten Una to her very core. Faith looked at her sister with utter disbelief and even a tiny amount of shame.
"What is it, Faith?" Una quietly asked.
"How could you do this, Una? How could you do it and never tell a soul?" Faith demanded.
"Una wasn't sure which of her transgressions Faith was referring to. "What are you talking about, Faith?"
Faith couldn't believe everything that had been going on. In fact, she couldn't believe the path that her sister's life had taken over the past ten years. She tried to compose herself. Controlling her temper had been a feat that she had worked to attain since childhood, and today her progress was being tested to its limits.
Very calmly, very quietly, Faith asked, "Do you by any chance happen to know of a man named Samson Bell?"
Una's eyes grew wide. The time had come. She started to answer, but Faith was not yet finished with her question. "No wait! Do you know this... this man, and if so, are engaged to him?"
Una diverted her blue eyes to the sunny day outside, illuminating their liquid blue. Faith could see the hurt and confusion stirring about in those pools, but could not allow the track of the conversation to be changed. She feared there was no time for that.
"Una, please answer me."
"Yes, I do know a man named Samson Bell. He was a minister working at the mission. He has been a sort of friend to me. When he was offered a position at St. John's Divinity School, he asked me to become his wife and maintain his home. I was ready to return home, and I am ready to become a wife and possibly more some day. This is my chance."
Faith just shook her head in disbelief. "I cannot believe what I am hearing here. You cannot tell me that you are in love with that man, are you?"
Una looked at her imploringly. "You have met him?"
"Yes just now at Miller's store with Rilla and Walter. He announced to everyone that you are his betrothed," she quickly answered.
"Walter knows?" She asked, somewhat relieved that he now knew.
"Oh yes. Walter and half of Glen St. Mary know about it!"
"Oh," was all that Una said in reply.
Faith however, needed to know more. "Are you in love with this man, Una? I only had a brief encounter with him, but I don't see how."
Una's demeanor changed. This wasn't a conversation that she desired to have. "That is irrelevant, Faith. I am not you. I haven't had the luxury of marrying my childhood sweetheart. I have come to learn over the past years that my future is in my hands, and I can make of it what ever I choose. I do not choose live on the charity of my family any longer. I choose to have a home of my own. I choose to try and make the most of this life."
Faith couldn't hear any more about Una's choices without mentioning one of the past. "You could have chosen Shirley! Why would you throw away his proposal and accept one from that man!"
Una only shook her head. "No. I couldn't have married Shirley. He is happy now. He did not deserve to enter into a loveless marriage. I care too much for him to have put him through that."
Faith calmed down a bit, walked to her sister, and took her hand, looking into her eyes, "And you do deserve that?"
Una felt herself wavering, remember the night before, but also remembered her own promises. "I have made my promises. There is very little that can induce me to go back on them. Samson is a just and truthful man. I wouldn't marry anyone who isn't."
"I see that I can't talk you out of this. I will support whatever your decisions are. I only hope that you do not jump into anything. Engagements can and have been broken. Possibly, he will grow on me. Whatever, we must deal with it soon. I feel he will find his way here quickly. I think that you must quickly explain the situation to the family," Faith advised.
"I feel that you are right," Una agreed somewhat wistfully.