This Chapter is mostly Rilla and Kenneth with a little bit of Susan and Anne because I just love Susan. She is so funny. I only hope I can capture a little of her speech pattern and mannerisms. Sorry this chapter is late. I have been swamped with finals this week.
Rainbow Valley appeared just as peaceful as ever as Rilla sat down on the log, which was her usual resting place. The little sylvan glen had not changed. If only Walter were here to see them all. If only she could see his dark head lying on the grass reading or hear his conversations about books, poetry or philosophy. She was happy but with a stolen happiness which robbed the past of its joy. The scene before her, all bucolic quietness, was no longer able to comfort her. For this spot had been rudely invaded because the people who had once caused this glen to ring with laughter were no longer here to enjoy it.
"Rilla-my-rilla," she winced at Walter's pet name on Ken's lips. She would not have wished him to call her anything else and yet it was with a bittersweet joy that she heard received it.
"Do you wish me to call you something else? I know it was…" he sat beside her and took the limp hand resting on the grass.
"No, I like it. But I will always be reminded of him." She replied and for a moment rested her head against his shoulder.
"You know I didn't realize how hard it would be until I came here. Then I realized my old chum would no longer be promoting dire predictions."
"I am so changed. I wonder if he would even recognize me. I feel sometimes as if I am very old." She sighed mournfully and felt the gloom settle about her.
"Darling, you aren't quite ancient yet. In fact you look pretty good." He smiled down at her with a slight twinkle then continued, "I have spoken to your father. He wishes things to go as they are for a few months to ensure as he put it that 'we would understand each other'."
"My father is very old fashioned but I do love him. I think Mother is quite on my side and we have schoolgirl chats. I think I learn more about being grown up from those talks than any number of lectures or sermons." Rilla was content for things to drift delightfully forward. There had been rush and bustle interspersed with dreadful periods of inactivity but now things seemed to move at a normal pace.
Rilla sighed and said firmly, "I ought to have brought my hat. The freckles me."
"Let me see." Playfully he tilted her head toward the light and stared at her fixedly as if she was some interesting specimen in a microscope. "Yes, there are a few."
Rilla felt as humiliated as if she had been called "Spider". Occasionally she still felt that he treated her as he had during their childhood. " I hate my freckles. They are the bane of my existence as Mother says. I also hate the lisp though I only lisp when very much excited or nervous."
" They really are adorable." He leaned over and kissed the cheek, which was lightly dusted with the hated marks.
"Flatterer, now I know how you deceived the Toronto ladies. Though you must think of something more realistic than that." She replied with a tinkling laugh. She loved to tease him as she had with all the Glen boys. She was far from being above enjoying her power. She had once heard Irene Howard say rather slyly that men really were easy to manage when a woman knew how.
"I'm being serious." He was laughing too but she could see that he was serious. She was beginning to be able to read his expressions and to judge how he felt or thought.
"Cousin Sophia makes sure to keep me humble. She told me that I'm looking fat. There are times when I wish Susan hadn't made up with her. She is horribly scandalized that Jem and Faith were walking together at twilight. I guess in her day proper girls didn't walk with a man at night." Rilla added inconsequentially. Cousin Sophia was generally a source of great amusement to all the Ingleside people though they tried to keep their thoughts to themselves.
" Times are changing. Though not so fast in Glen St. Mary as other places." Ken replied.
"Is it really true that all those women in the city really do wear short dresses and lipstick and cut their hair?" Rilla asked rather wistfully. If she were really to live in Toronto it would be horrible to be old fashioned and dowdy looking.
"Not most of them. But my sister did. Then again my sister is always the first person to try the most outlandish things. Persis went through a stage when she looked like a circus performer or a gypsy. Poor mother almost had a heart attack at one dress which was a nauseating combination of green and orange."
Rilla couldn't help but laugh as she had seen such dresses in the fashion magazines her mother subscribed to. At one time Rilla would have been thrilled to own such a dress. But now she realized the hideousness of such a garment.
The lengthening shadows in Rainbow Valley as well as her own hunger reminded her that dinner was coming on. She rose regretfully and looked about her for a moment. There were times when she felt as if she could see her brother's Piper still lingering in the valley taunting her to be happy if she dared.
"Won't you stay to dinner?" she looked down at her companion.
"I can't. Cousin Mary doesn't like making dinner for just two people. She'll chew me out for sure."
Ken pulled her close for a moment and kissed her in parting. Rilla stared at him for an instant then began walking lightly toward the house. There were times when Rilla Blythe was utterly confusing. She was the strangest combination of childish innocence and womanly wisdom. That glance was a perfect example.
Susan and Anne were in the kitchen when Rilla floated past them and when upstairs to fix her hair and clothes for dinner. Susan had been scandalized at the news that Rilla had a beau. If anyone else in Glen St. Mary, most notably Mrs. Elliot or Mary Vance or even Aunt Sophia, had said Rilla was too young she would have been the first to tell them that Rilla was nineteen and many girls in her day had been married at nineteen. But her private opinion was that these modern doings were immoral and not suitable. Kenneth Ford was not a bad young man as young men came but he was not good enough for an Ingleside girl. He was far too modern and a Toronto man.
"Mrs. Doctor Dear, I do not know where this world is coming to. Jerry and Nan are close to an understanding and now Rilla…I think in my day things were much simpler. I almost died when that soldier greeted her so familiarly. In my day a girl wouldn't dream of letting someone embrace you in broad daylight and that you may tie to." Susan continued shelling peas and shaking her head.
Anne only smiled indulgently and replied, "Susan, we are old. Things are changing very fast. But Rilla is quite a sensible girl and she will not do anything unwise. At least she isn't like Irene Howard who has taken to wearing paint and cutting her hair."
Susan snorted and said, "To think that when that young man came I sat there all the evening. I thought he was boring her. To think that a romance was brewing under my very nose."
She was rather offended that she had not been able to ferret out this romance before anyone else. But then a comforting thought arose and she replied more cheerfully, "It was just as well I was there. You never can tell what young people will do when their elders aren't present."
Anne put down her sewing and answered Susan gently, "I am quite sure you are a proper chaperone. But though it shall be hard to give her up I am glad for her. I think she will be very happy."
Susan muttered quite under her breath, "And she is going to live in Toronto. All those mainland will look down on poor Rilla. Not to say she isn't a fine looking child but she is young."
Susan quite comforted herself by making Shirley's favorite dessert and Anne could hear her banging pots and pan in almost her old cheerful fashion. Susan could always know when her mind slipped back to her boy. She knew she must be brave and keep the faith but at times it was very hard work to keep a smile on her face.