Spring past by in Rainbow Valley, and the children soon greeted summer to Four Winds. They loved sitting out in the sunny days and playing games with each other in the lovely hollow. On a Saturday morning they went about with their usual doings, Di and Meredith were picking "chew" in the spruce grove, Jem and Gerald were fishing for trout by the lake and Walt was reading to Anne.

"I feel very sorry for the lame boy," said Anne as Walt finished reading the Pied Piper to her. "He had missed out and it did not seem fair."

"I think it seemed fair to the mother," said Di as she produced a small banquet that her mother had given. "She had to go about thinking of how lame her son was but now she was happy he was, so she was glad about something for once."

"Yes it was fair, I can imagine how she would've felt when she found out that he was lame. But enough about that and let's eat," said Jem who was very hungry. They accordingly ate in the Rainbow Valley, where in their parents before had played to the heart's content. In the spruce grove, images of young girls picking "chews" were clearly seen, two older boys fishing by the river nearby, a young poet stood on the grass, reading to the others who gazed with anticipation. But the children were "children" no more but were now parents of young offspring who laughed the laughs their fathers and mothers had.

"I love Rainbow Valley," said Di as she gazed at the beautiful nature before her. The others chimed in as well.

"We all do, we could stay here forever and ever."

"Even when we are 'big' boys and girls," said Anne with bright eyes. To the Meredith and Blythe gang "big children" was out of the question, for only Jem, Gerald and Walt went to school and they did not rank with the "big boy" group of ten and eleven. However they still scornfully refused to be called 'babies.' When the boys went up to the old Glen St Mary school house, the others went on with their usual doings or house chores and Di with the help of Meredith, as they were the eldest present, were in charge of the Rainbow Valley issues.

The school house was run by Miss Stella Jenson, a lovely young lady with sugar-brown curls and big round brown eyes. Some parents had approved of her teaching, but many mothers had scornfully declared that Miss Jenson brought in too many "fairy books" into their children's minds. Ingleside had a liking for such teachers.

"She reminds me of my once young school teacher," said Anne. "Oh how I admired her looks and her ways."

Faith nodded. "Yes, and she does not whip the children the way other teachers used to do," Faith had always detested whipping in classrooms. "This is well, for if anyone laid a hand on my sons I would have been furious with them."

"Where are the children," asked Anne as she sat down. Faith handed her a cup of tea. "They're playing out in Rainbow Valley. The children just adore the place, just as we used to."

"And still do," said Anne smiling. "Mind you that place still has old ghosts of the past lurking about in every corner. It is haunted with all of your laughter."

Faith propped her head on her hand. "I still remember what fun we used to have. It's such a shame that we grew up and left our childhood forever, but that is not in your case Mrs Blythe, you will always stay young inside."

"That's what other folks say, but when I look in the mirror it is as if I can distinctly hear a voice telling me that I'm not as young as were before," she sighed as she put her cup down. "And neither are my once small children, that are now parents! My, when young Jem was born I had to remind myself every time I held him that I was an old grandmother." Anne laughed. Faith laughed as well.

"Well it will soon be the same for me, and all the other parents. One day the boys will all have jobs, and Meredith might even be a young bride at Ingleside-but," said Faith determined to be optimistic about the present and not about the future to come. "I will enjoy mother-hood for as long as it lasts."

The children came in-the bright-eyed and crimson cheeked-and accordingly prepared for their chores around the house. Walt was given an errand and he took upon it immediately. His golden-brown eyes flashed with spirit as he cheerfully went down the lane of Ingleside and to the house of Mr and Mrs Miller Douglas.

Walt had only ever seen Mrs Douglas once or twice, but very briefly on the way to the market. People said she had odd eyes that had never been inherited in Four Winds. He had heard mysterious stories of her being into Four Winds, some said that she had been dropped by an angel and into the barn of old Mr John Meredith. Others said that she had been beaten terribly when she was a girl and had-but Walt could not remember the rest of the story. He was interested to find out what Mrs Douglas was like.

He presently knocked on the Douglas' door. It was bottle-green and the house walls could have done with a new layer of paint. The door opened and a lady with a blue apron stood before him. She had a hard knob of hair on her head and her eyes looked as if they were white. Walt had never seen such eyes and he knew that this was Mrs Miller Douglas herself.

"Oh hello, dearie, you must be Walt Blythe," she said. "Well come in, won't you, I have a full doughnut jar." Walt accordingly went in and found the place quite clean, despite the shabbiness outside. Mrs Douglas presently gave Walt a doughnut. He looked at it thoughtfully and took a big bite. He thought that Susan's tasted much better but did not want to hurt her feelings and told thanked her. Mrs Douglas looked pleased as he ate the last of it.

"Well my apron is upstairs I will get it down after I put away the preserve." But she soon excused herself when the telephone rang.

Walt sat there on the wooden stool, waiting for her to come back, but instead he heard her say something that made him prick up his ears.

"Faith sick!" exclaimed Mrs Douglas loud enough for Walt to hear. "Oh terribly! My word" She said the words quite bluntly. Mrs Douglas muttered on to the caller while poor Walter sat there stupefied. Mother was sick-he felt an awful pit in his stomach. Mother was terribly sick!

Mrs Douglas came back in with a smile and handed over the apron pattern. Walt's face turned very pale as he walked down the street. Once he had reached Ingleside he went to find mother.

"Your mother is asleep," said Susan absently. "You mustn't wake her up young Walter."

Susan's simple declaration left the poor child terrified. "She must be very, very sick," he thought shivering.

That supper, Walt could not eat a thing, not even his favourite dessert, cake with nuts in frosting. Dad and mother were nowhere to be seen.

"Dad must be look after mother, but she will be better soon. Dad's the best," Walt said to himself, but even that thought did not comfort him. Things were racing through his mind. Who would hug him to when he needed a hug? Who would read him story books in the night? Who would he go to when he had cuts and bruises to be kissed? Who would tuck him in every night? He thought about how Susan would, but he always liked it better when mother did it. Dad could as well, but mother always sung him to sleep and he was sure he wouldn't. Walt lay awake in the night frightened. He wanted to-but he couldn't he was a big boy. But he wanted to!

"I wish I was a girl so I could cry and cry and cry," He moaned.

The next day Henry Drew asked Walt if he would stay over for one night. Walt accepted soberly, for he thought that if he was away from Ingleside it would save them from looking after one more person and reverse their care for him to his mother. He didn't know if it would work but felt that it was better than nothing.

Walt enjoyed the stay, but of course at night he did not sleep. When he arrived at Ingleside he did not find his father or mother and assumed that his mother was still ill. What Walt did not know-and always wondered why he didn't-was that they had gone to Avonlea for a quick visit. Susan, who assumed that his parents had told him, volunteered no information and Walt, who did not want Susan to find him worried, did not ask, and there it stayed.

In Rainbow Valley, on their Monday-before-school-session, they had all been doing what they liked. Walt felt a queer sensation that made him want to blurt it out, which he eventually did.

"Mother is terribly ill," he said as bluntly as when Mrs Miller Douglas had said it. The others looked up, but the most serious looks were from Jem and Meredith.

"Mother is ill?" queried Jem slowly. His voice sounded hollow and the flush on Meredith's face had faded.

"Mrs Miller Douglas said so," Walt said a little more quietly. He wished he had not told them in that way! It seemed as if he was telling the whole world. Meredith's quivered and her eyes welled up with tears.

The Blythes shortly went home after this, as they felt they could not endure the misery while playing. Susan was confused when they arrived, for they had been very quiet and had stayed alone for the rest of the day. Inside Meredith's room, quiet sobs could be heard, Jem had shut himself inside the boys' bedroom and did not come out until supper, Walt sat on a chair trying to read a book and forget about the troubles of the world. Grandmother and Grandfather Blythe had gone off to stay with Aunt Di, so Susan had to deal with the problem herself.

"Castor oil," she thought as the children quietly sat down at the dinner table and "Castor oil," thought the children as they saw the look in Susan's eye. Meredith bit her lip hard as she tried to eat, but she caught a glance from Jem as if he were saying "Hush now!" and so she kept quiet. Walt felt as if he shouldn't have told the two. But it was probably the right thing to do, wasn't it. She was their mother as well, it seemed fair.

Several more days went by and the children did not feel any better. The Merediths asked if they would stay at their house, but they had declined, as the Blythe children had the feeling as if that their cousins were outsiders to the whole situation. Susan was at her wit ends all week and was thankful when the two parents had arrived.

It was the first time Walt had seen his mother since he had gone up to the Douglases. He felt very odd when she came to hug them, and she noticed it too. Mother looked at the other too, who looked very silent. "Dearests, what is the matter."

Meredith opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed and she stayed rooted to the ground. Walt swallowed hard. He could not, or would not. It was Jem who made a good save, he smiled as if there was nothing to worry about. "We just had not seen you for a while,"

Walt and Meredith were relieved that they did not need to save their own thoughts. Mother smiled and her long sleek curls brushed against their faces as they hugged her. But they all felt tears smarting their eyes, even Jem, who gave out a long sob after she had tucked him in.

They were not the only ones upset about the "tragedy". Many neighbours were sorry about the mother of three, who apparently had lumbago! Lovely flowers and affectionate cards were sent to the confused lady who read them laughing. What on earth made them think that way?

But instead she was rather unsure when Nan dropped by. She brought a bouquet of apple blossoms that the children had picked out for her. When Nan had queried about her health and how she was getting on Faith gave her a blank look.

"Nan I do not in the least know what you are talking about." she said quite startled. Nan gave an equally blank expression. "Why your lumbago, you are ill aren't you."

Faith replied that she "was not" and the confusion lingered for a rather long time. When Nan left relieved, Faith called the three in and gave them a short talk. Eventually Walt got cornered out and they had a private talk.

"Mrs Douglas said so," he muttered not daring to look into her eyes. "She had said "Faith was terribly ill,"" Suddenly he realised how silly he had been. It did not mean mother was ill. He looked up with his wonderful golden-brown eyes guiltily. He felt that he would not be able to live it down. Meredith and Jem would probably never let him hear the end of it. But he did not care, mother was alright and that was that mattered.

"I am very sorry mother," Walt said shamefacedly. "I have deceived you, I did no meant to, mother, honestly."

"My dearest you have not deceived me. It was just a silly little misunderstanding. As for the neighbours, well they will soon forget about the mistake. I suppose you would have thought so, for I haven't seen you in a while. You needn't to worry about the consequences." Walt was so happy that he was ashamed of it. It must be a babyish thing to be happy.

Walt smiled and gave her a childish kiss on the cheek. "I am very glad I was wrong, mummy." Mother gave him a warm hug. It was nice to know that you could still go to someone for a hug when you needed one.