LM Montgomery still owns Anne of Green Gables

Marybeth received the promised commentary and read it whenever she had a few moments to spare. Miss Cornelia raised her eyebrow when she saw the book and Marybeth told her she had it of the minister, but said nothing. As Marybeth read, she thought of some points she wanted to bring up with Mr. Meredith when she saw him, but realized that her questions were becoming more numerous. She started to keep a notebook and pencil with her to write her questions and comments down.

Marybeth's chores kept her busy, even with the help of her housekeeper, Lanie. Laundry, cooking and cleaning was a full time chore, along with the gardening Marybeth had wanted to do. Also, she insisted that she spend at least an hour a day with her family. She and Lanie would rotate the chores, so that neither of them were stuck in the house all day.

For the next couple of days she didn't see Mr. Meredith to talk to, although she saw him once in his own yard, and another time walking along the road. He seemed to be sleepwalking, absorbed in some entrancing thought of his own, and almost passed her yard before remembering to smile and wave. Marybeth waved back, amused. The stories of his absentmindedness were already legendary. She was amazed that he even remembered to send her the book. She went back to her gardening.

Jomishie brought her mother down to Rainbow Valley to show it to her once. Marybeth was entranced. She loved the wildflowers, the little bubbling spring. There were even a couple of decaying old stone walls one could sit on if they were tired. Marybeth had never had anything so wild to play in when she was a child. The little town where she had grown up was lovely, but there were no feral places like this. She felt justified in feeling a little envious.

Marybeth was also feeling a little restless. She decided to go a-visiting, and decided Anne was the one to see. Marybeth brought a little jar of peach jam she had brought all the way from Georgia and marched up to the Blythe's door.

"Marybeth! How good to see you. Do come inside. Did you bring that for us?"

"Anne, please forgive this intrusion, but I thought I would go crazy in that house. Don't mind if I do sit down."

They spoke like this even though they had fallen into a pattern of visiting two or three times a week.

Marybeth sat down and sighed. "I don't know, Anne, I just felt so restless. I had to get out and walk around a while."

"Sometimes summer days just do that to you. Not to make you feel guilty, but how is your garden coming along?"

"Not bad, for starting so late in the season. Thank you for the cuttings you sent over."

Conversation went on in this vein until Miss Cornelia joined them, a new needlework in her hand. The women admired her new project, and the three women had a lively, if mundane afternoon of conversation. Marybeth left first, because she wanted to help Lanie start dinner. When she was well out of earshot, Miss Cornelia looked straight at Anne and asked the question she was dying to ask.

"What is going on with Marybeth and John Meredith?"

Anne was a little shocked. Cornelia knew she didn't like gossip, but it must have been on her mind. She hesitated before she replied, "What makes you think there's anything between them?"

"Anne, dear, he lent her that book of commentaries. And she's reading it!"

Anne laughed a little. "That doesn't make for a grand romance."

Miss Cornelia only looked at her.