"I believe that we have some explaining to do downstairs, and the sooner, the better."
"What?" Una asked. "Oh yes. You are right," she answered Faith. However, she had one request. "Please leave me alone a moment while I compose myself. I shall be down shortly."
Faith looked hard at her sister, not sure what she should do, then relented. "Just a moment, Una; time is precious right now. I will wait for you at the top of the stairs."
Una tried to smile a weak smile, but could only force a pained grimace. "Thank you. I'll not be long."
Faith nodded her head and left the room. Una turned to look out the window. She caught a glimpse of a robin flying happily about, singing a heart-felt song of freedom, and meet with a friend, perhaps its mate. Together the two robins flew off into the horizon. Seeing the happy birds together reminded her of a pet parakeet that Rosemary and Faith had given her long ago. Oh how she had loved that bird so much. It was a shy and timid bird that would only sing for her. It spent many days listening to the birds outside, flying about as they pleased. It was too weak ever to fly outside the manse. It required coddling and nurturing, but even with all of the love that Una gave the poor bird, it eventually died. She longed for the freedom of the robins, but felt much like her poor parakeet.
She then thought again of the previous night. She thought of the promising conversation with Walter. And that kiss. That kiss was everything to her, yet she saw the pained look in Walter's eyes after. She knew he was still devoted to his wife, and she would never compare, couldn't compare because this woman, Katie, had been brave and extraordinary. Una felt the she herself merely existed, waiting for each day to end so that another may end shortly thereafter. If one merely existed, then where and with whom did it matter?
She met Faith of the top of the stairway, holding her hand as they walked down the stairs. By that time, the entire family was aware that something was amiss; though Rilla thought it wasn't her place to explain what had and was occurring. All eyes were on Faith and Una as they descended the stairs. Faith started to say something, but Una stopped her.
"No Faith, this is my announcement." She looked around at everyone's wondering eyes. "I am sure that you have noticed that there was a bit of commotion this morning. I suppose that I am the cause of such unrest. I am also sure that you have all wondered what suddenly brought me home, and what my plans are, because I do have plans."
Her father answered her statement. "We have wondered what has brought you home, though it has been the opposite of unwelcome."
"I believe that I owe all of you an explanation. You see, when I left, we all know I left for certain reasons, but I had also wanted to do something meaningful and important with my life since the armistice. I had been thinking this over anyway. Shirley's proposal just gave me the excuse I needed because I didn't want him to continue to have feelings that I never could reciprocate."
"We have all come to understand that over time, my dear," Mrs. Blythe interrupted.
"Yes, I have come to realize that since my return. However, there are a few facts that I cannot neglect to tell you. You see, before Shirley had ever proposed to me, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never marry. There was not a living person with whom I felt that I could ever love in that way."
Rilla heard Una's phrase, "not a living person" over and over in her head as Una continued.
"Upon that realization, I decided that I must do something with my life other than live at the manse forever. So I took that course in Household Science at Redmond. I very quickly found out that I was not suited for the atmosphere at Redmond. However, while I was there, I had started learning more about missionary work in India and China. I was being called to that. When I returned home, it seemed as if that was where I was expected to be. I really didn't know how to broach the subject of my going off to the far reaches. Especially since I couldn't stay the course at Redmond. You all know how I came to finally join that.
While in India I met an missionary named Samson Bell. He is a strong young man who took control of what was a rather chaotic situation. He became a friend of mine, telling who and whom I shouldn't associate with, for my own good. I daresay, he kept a naive thing like me out of a great deal of trouble.
When he received a position at St. John's Divinity, he asked me to come along with him... as his wife."
Upon Una's finishing that sentence, every adult in the room looked at her with awe. Then she finished the rest of her tale.
"I accepted his proposal. It was decided that I should come home immediately, and he would follow soon after. He was delayed a bit for reasons that are still unknown to me. Now though, it seems that he has come for me."
"He has come for you? How come this is the first I am hearing of this?" her father cried out.
"Y-yes Father, he ran into Rilla, Faith, and Walter at the general store. He is here, in the Glen, and looking for me. Faith sent him to the manse, knowing we were here, in order to find out what I knew of this. I am sorry that I have neglected in telling you of my engagement. I am rather shy about divulging such secrets. Samson told me that he would ask you for my hand, and I have to admit that it felt better coming from him, though I know now that was wrong."
Mr. Meredith scratched his forehead in though a while. "Well, Una. If he is at least asking for my permission to marry you, then I will have to meet this man. However, I will never give my consent to this arrangement (for he was family certain of what it really was) in haste. I must get to know this man."
"Thank you, Father," Una replied. She wasn't exactly sure just what she was thankful for, the fact that he might give his permission, or the fact that he might not.