Inspired by a post from Anne of Green Gables Incorrect Quotes on Tumblr. This particular quote is from "I Love Lucy" (S2E11). Direct quotes and actions are in bold.


The faithful flame inside the kerosene lamp fluttered a little, nudging Gilbert out of his trance. He leaned back in his seat and stretched until an involuntary yawn escaped him, reminding him that he had spent too many hours in his office pouring over some notes from a few of his cases. It was time to step out and see what Anne was up to.

Gilbert found her curled up on the floor by the fireplace, her head resting against the sofa. The blaze highlighted the red in her hair so well that, for a moment, he almost thought her head was aflame. Quietly she sat there, thumbing through a book of baby names, as he had suspected she was doing. She spent most recent nights that way, ever since Marilla had gifted her the book at Christmas. She and Gilbert had both already spent many an hour with Miss Cornelia, Captain Jim, and Leslie, vetoing or approving the names within, but still nothing had been finalized.

"Anne, you really musn't sit on floor. You'd be much more comfortable on the sofa," Gilbert said, strolling towards her.

Anne lifted her face and showed him a patient smile. "I'm quite content here—I feel nearer the flames."

"Well, then you really musn't sit there alone," said Gilbert. He dropped down beside her and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. She rested her head on his chest and laid the book in both of their laps.

"I still have yet to feel a connection with any one name over the other," she sighed. "I know Miss Cornelia likes Clara for a girl, and Fred for a boy. Captain Jim likes Alice or William; and Leslie is fond of Kenneth or Persis. Oh, but she named those off so wistfully that I can't help feeling she likes those for her own dream-children. I know she hasn't any hope of having babies someday, but I have a feeling anyhow...so I feel I must leave those for her."

"With whom would she even have any children?" Gilbert asked. "Certainly not with Dick."

Anne was quiet. "No, you're right. I don't know." She sighed. "I just wish better for her is all."

Gilbert squeezed Anne gently. "Yes, I know."

For a few moments, only the sound of the crackling flames in the fireplace and quiet breezes brushing up against the house were heard. Gilbert stroked Anne's arm softly with his thumb as they sat together in thoughtful silence. With her head still laid against his chest, Anne could feel and hear the muffled, steady beating of Gilbert's heart. He cupped her belly, not yet very swollen, in his free hand, hoping to feel some movement inside; no little feet were kicking right now. Anne turned her smiling face up to his.

"I did feel her stirring in there earlier," she said proudly.

Gilbert beamed down at Anne. "Her?"

"Or him," Anne said. Remembering that whoever was in there was yet to be named, she turned back to her book. "I do wish Marilla would chime in with some names. She refuses to volunteer any. And I'd so love to hear just a few—ones that maybe she held in her secret heart* for her own children."

"What names do the other Green Gables folk like?"

"Davy was rather eager to contribute. He likes Homer—think of that! I suspect he got it out of one of his adventure novels. Dora suggested Nettie. And Mrs. Lynde thinks Margaret a sensible name, or George; but I think they're both too plain. I want the names to be unique and euphonious."

"Okay. 'Unique' if it's a boy, and 'Euphonious' if it's a girl," Gilbert said, a teasing twinkle in his eyes.

Just as he said that, the baby kicked, as if in protest. Anne and Gilbert laughed disbelievingly. They both pressed their hands to Anne's stomach in hopes of feeling another kick.

"Suggest another ridiculous name," Anne joked, half-seriously.

"Um—prodigious! Sagacious! Ostentacious!"

The baby struck a few more blows.

Gilbert threw his head back with laughter. "At least we know now what not to name it!"