"The beauty of the Glen, that girl is," said a certain Mrs. Alec Davis, as she watched a slender, graceful figure walking along the road.
Her companion commented, "The whole bunch of them is regular good-looking."
Mrs. Alec Davis nodded in assent. "A more handsome group I never see," she said. "Them Blythes and Merediths have the running of the Glen. They'll all marry each other sooner or later."
Nan walked on, blithely unaware that her future was being settled in such a prosaic manner. It was a sunny afternoon in late spring, and she was blissfully drinking in the loveliness around her as she contemplated her day at school. The children were really quite wonderful and there were some of them with so much potential. The very air was full of romance and promise.
"Why, someday, one of them might be the Canadian premier," she mused to herself. "Or, a world famous author! Or a great reformist! Or—Jerry Meredith! You startled me!"
Jerry Meredith grinned, unable to hide the pleased look on his handsome face. "Nan Blythe!" he said slyly, with an exaggerated bow. "And where doth my fair lady go this fine day?"
Nan rolled her eyes. She liked Jerry—very much, in fact—but she would rather die before she would let him see it. "Don't be a goose, Jerry," she said, arching a shapely eyebrow. "I didn't know you were coming home this week."
Jerry shrugged, walking in step with her. "I decided to go on ahead of Jem," he said, offering his arm to her. "He had to stay over for a few days to fix his medical classes." To his immense delight, she took his arm without question.
"So what have you decided to study?" asked Nan, stepping gracefully over a puddle. "Are you really going to be a lawyer?"
Jerry nodded. "I already took some Law electives last semester."
Nan pursed her lips. "I do think it's unfair that there are no women lawyers," she said frowning. "I think I'd make as good a lawyer as any man!"
He chuckled. "That you will, Nan. I have no doubt about it," he said, looking at her fondly.
Nan turned her brown eyes away from his black ones. She decided not to be too attracted to Jerry. He was, after all, a popular Redmond junior who might just be having a bit of innocent, flirtatious fun with an old childhood friend. The very thought insulted her pride, but, as was her nature, Nan did not let anything show. She grinned. "I do believe I could beat you at any debate, Jerry."
He pretended to be insulted. "You wound me, Nan," he said grinning back. "Is that how much you belittle my intelligence?"
"Is that how much you belittle mine?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling.
They had reached Rainbow Valley, by then. An unspoken agreement led them to sit on the rocks by the old spring, the banks of which held countless childhood dreams and memories. A breeze blew softly, bringing with it the perfumes of June roses and mayflowers.
Jerry looked around him and whistled softly. "Nothing in Kingsport can beat this scenery," he said appreciatively.
"I do love this valley," said Nan dreamily. "It seems to me that the childhood spirits of Jem, Walter, Di and I, and you, Faith, and Una, will play here forever, even when we're old, gray, and eighty."
He nodded. Jerry wasn't one for sentiment, but he agreed with Nan. "Something about this valley brings back the past while welcoming the future."
Nan looked dreamily into the sky. "It's a valley full of romance," she said. Seeing a look she couldn't quite decipher in Jerry's eyes, she hastily went on with a laugh. "Well, anyway, Faith and Jem would make it seem so. And so does Walter's poetry."
Jerry laughed too, sensing that now was not the time for…whatever it was he felt for Nan. "Has Walt come back from Lowbridge yet?"
Nan nodded, suddenly serious. "I think he overworked himself," she said quietly. "Mother is awfully worried about him. He looks rather ill."
Jerry sensed the change in her mood and wanted to lighten it. "Oh, Walter will be all right," he said cheerfully.
Nan shrugged and stood up. "I better be going," she said looking around. "Dusk has already fallen."
"So do I," agreed Jerry. "I haven't been up to the Manse yet. No one but you knows I'm here," he added, giving her a playful nudge and wink.
She smiled teasingly at him. Two can play at that game. "So I was the first person in your itinerary, then?" she said impishly.
He grinned at her and presented her a rose with a flourish. "You always are."
Nan just laughed. "You fancy yourself quite the charmer, don't you, Mr. Meredith?" she said, her eyes twinkling as they began to walk to Ingleside.
Jerry's face took on a look of innocence. "Why, Miss Blythe, I don't know what you're talking about."
"I highly doubt that," said Nan lightly. "Why, if you knew what we have been hearing about your charms…"
Jerry looked surprised. "What have you been hearing?" He said frowning.
Nan shrugged. "Oh, this and that."
"Nan…" said Jerry, waving the rose threateningly at her face. "If you don't tell me now, I'm going to tell Jem about the time when…"
Nan shot him a look. "Fine," she said. "We just heard that you're quite the ladies' man at Redmond. Something about being the handsomest junior of the year."
Jerry blushed profusely and Nan burst out laughing. "Gerald Meredith, you don't mean to tell me that it's true?"
"Stupid girl society of some sort voted," he mumbled.
"My goodness," she said, shaking her head. "I would've thought they'd have better things to vote on." She grinned at his red face. "And how does it feel like to be the handsomest, most eligible junior?"
"Can we not talk about it?" he said embarrassedly. "And I am certainly not a ladies' man."
"Well, that's good to know," said Nan roguishly. She smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you for walking me home, Jerry."
To his immense relief and disappointment, they had already reached Ingleside. He smiled back at her, thinking about how beautiful she was. Impulsively, he reached out and put the rose on her shining hair.
"A rose for a rose," he quipped suddenly. Then, as if embarrassed by his unusual demonstration, he clasped her hand for a second, said goodbye, and walked quickly out of sight.
Nan looked after him thoughtfully for a moment before sighing and shaking her head. While she could still feel the pressure of his hand on hers, she decidedly ignored it and removed the rose from her hair, paying no mind to the pretty blush staining her cheeks.