Author's Note:

Warning: Charlie… we'll learn why Gilbert does NOT want Davy staying in the same room as Charlie.

I believe this is the chapter where I started putting in italic where I pulled lines from the book. Or it could be the next chapter. I've been swamped and aim to get back on track and writing again in week or two. Either way that's the purpose of keeping several chapters behind in posting when writing.

Chapter 11: Spofford Avenue

They saw it as they walked up the pine-fringed hill from the park. Just on the crest, where Spofford Avenue petered out into a plain road, was a little white frame house with groups of pines on either side of it, stretching their arms protectingly over its low roof. It was covered with red and gold vines, through which its green-shuttered windows peeped. Before it was a tiny garden, surrounded by a low stone wall. October though it was, the garden was still very sweet with dear, old-fashioned, unworldly flowers and shrubs—sweet may, southern-wood, lemon verbena, alyssum, petunias, marigolds and chrysanthemums. A tiny brick wall, in herring-bone pattern, led from the gate to the front porch. The whole place might have been transplanted from some remote country village; yet there was something about it that made its nearest neighbor, the big lawn-encircled palace of a tobacco king, look exceedingly crude and showy and ill-bred by contrast. As Phil said, it was the difference between being born and being made.

"It's the dearest place I ever saw," said Anne delightedly. "It gives me one of my old, delightful funny aches. It's dearer and quainter than even Miss Lavendar's stone house."

"It's the name I want you to notice especially," said Phil. "Look—in white letters, around the archway over the gate. 'Patty's Place.' Isn't that killing? Especially on this Avenue of Pinehursts and Elmwolds and Cedarcrofts? 'Patty's Place,' if you please! I adore it."

"Have you any idea who Patty is?" asked Priscilla.

"Patty Spofford is the name of the old lady who owns it, I've discovered. She lives there with her niece, and they've lived there for hundreds of years, more or less—maybe a little less, Anne. Exaggeration is merely a flight of poetic fancy. I understand that wealthy folk have tried to buy the lot time and again—it's really worth a small fortune now, you know—but 'Patty' won't sell upon any consideration. And there's an apple orchard behind the house in place of a back yard—you'll see it when we get a little past—a real apple orchard on Spofford Avenue!"

"I'm going to dream about 'Patty's Place' tonight," said Anne. "Why, I feel as if I belonged to it. I wonder if, by any chance, we'll ever see the inside of it."

"It isn't likely," said Priscilla.

Anne smiled mysteriously.

"No, it isn't likely. But I believe it will happen. I have a queer, creepy, crawly feeling—you can call it a presentiment, if you like—that 'Patty's Place' and I are going to be better acquainted yet." - Chapter VI, Anne of the Island

Anne stubbornly refused to even speak to him as Gilbert escorted her home after his failed attempt to woo his wife on valentines day. He'd walked her to her door, then took the long way home to his own boarding house such that he might get home after ten PM. The house matron of course lectured him for coming home so late, and some of the fellas who'd just gotten home from escorting their girls to the dance laughingly asked him what dark corner he and Miss Shirley had gone to. And of course one of them, a Junior got to ribbing him about how if he had such a delectable fiancé as Miss Shirley, that he'd have her mouth on… Well, Gilbert couldn't let the man finish the sentence and had fought him there in the parlor. The House Matron was even more upset over that.

And even though it was fifteen minutes after the hour when he went up. Charlie wasn't done and Gilbert froze at the sight. All the fellas back home had the misfortune to be given the schedule for regulations by Charlie's mother, Mrs. Hiram Sloane upon Charlie's 17th birthday. He'd walked into seeing Charlie having lined up no doubt in some methodical order postcards of ladies scantily clad and some looked suspiciously like his Anne. Far too much like Anne and by Charlie's current actions. Gilbert stormed into the room punching Charlie. "Think on someone else besides my wife."

Charlie sputtered. "I… You're not supposed to come up…"

"It's after ten and I'm going to bed. And I'm taking any of those that looks too much like Anne."

"Do and I'll tell your secret… Bet the school won't look too kindly on a married co-ed specially one whose sneaking off to have marital relations with her husband. When I escorted my date home I saw the two of you sneak into the cemetery by her boarding house."

"Do and I'll let the fellas see your bed in the morning. Likely as not it'll be wet and not from what you just did. Have some regulation…"

"That's exactly what I have, unlike you." Charlie glared at him. "Clearly your wife isn't releasing your tension so you might as well take those postcards. Put them to good use. I need a new muse anyways. I'd meant to ask Anne to marry me but as you beat me to it, I guess I'll need a new wife candidate, so want my silence? Then tell Anne to help me find a wife before graduation as Philippa Gordon wouldn't be my date for the dance. I've decided she wouldn't do for a wife anyways, nor would Anne. Anyways, my mother didn't approve of her being an orphan and all, and doubted she could fulfill my regulation needs. That she fulfills yours is questionable."

—

Gilbert spent the next several weeks between classes, work, studying, and meetings for the Lambs trying to get back into his wife's good graces. She'd refused to speak to him, even when he'd run to walk her from class to class. She'd accept him taking her books, hold her head high as she'd walk beside him but not a hint of their normal banter.

He'd also had to spend on the evenings when he wasn't banned from his own room listening to Charlie list the attributes for his future wife. He rather doubted he and Anne could find such a wife. He'd known Anne had started to focus on the Thorbern Scholarship, and he had his own eyes on one in Biology. He'd tried to get her to talk even over their finances one day between classes yet she'd refused to talk. So instead he'd focused on what ever he could do to set aside as much money as possible to take care of his family including affording to not work that summer and still pay for the travel fares of Mrs. Lynde and the twins for their trip.

He'd also written home for hope of any job that he could get to from Avonlea. Thankfully Fred had promised to help, and he prayed that they'd have enough to continue school and take care of their family. He had all the responsibilities and worries of a married man, and he groaned. None of the pleasures.

—

Anne had done her best to avoid Gilbert, she was furious for his disregard to his promise. He'd promised nothing would change, they'd just be chums. Though she knew it would have to some day, if they wanted children. But they could adopt could they not? Oh why could he not be like Matthew and be perfect with none of that ruining things? Why couldn't Marilla have lived, why couldn't have Matthew? She sat at her desk, meaning to write an essay when instead she was day dreaming.

Matthew living, she would have taken her scholarship and gone to college ahead of Gilbert. She'd be a Junior now. She wouldn't be friends with Gilbert, her pride wouldn't have allowed it….

She gasped at the thought of a life without Gilbert.

Somehow the ache of the thought was as bad as it'd been when she'd lost Matthew then Marilla.

Jumping out of the chair at her desk, she grabbed her coat hanging on a hook on the back of the door she she shared with Priscilla and rushed out of the room. As she ran down the stairs she glared at the parlor clock over the mantle. A quarter to ten. Gilbert wouldn't be in his room yet, not if she hurried. She heard a cry from Miss Ada who was still embroidering in the firelight.

She rushed into the street, She'd never called on Gilbert but on a ramble they'd stopped there for him to grab a book that they were debating. Three streets over, and one down…

She was panting by the time she reached the warm glow of his boarding houses's porch light. The gas flickered warm and cozy and had she'd time she'd stop to admire the joyful flicks. Instead she ran up the steps banging on the door.

"Anne!" She whipped around to see her husband running up behind her, his cheeks flushed from the cold. "Is something wrong."

"Don't you dare ever die on me like Matthew or Marilla…" She sobbed as his arms wrapped around her holding her to his chest. "I'm scared of everything changing Gilbert, you know. And I know it'll change in the future… I'm so scared of the day when you make me your wife in full… I wish it'll never come… but loosing you… scares me more."

"Anne?"

"I thought I'd never marry… I didn't want to… not after… Please I can't talk about it. Just… Please just be my chum like always and let me imagine that I need not fear the future."

"You don't need to Anne…" Gilbert pulled her face with his thumb, forcing her to look up at him. "We're in this together… I'll wait as long as you need. Won't kiss you again…"

"Thank you." Anne let out a deep sigh. "Chums?"

"Always." Gilbert grinned. "Walk you home, then tomorrow, after Church what about a ramble? We're both working our selves too hard and we're better as a team then apart. Come on, Anne."

Anne took his offered hand. "Yes."

—

(NOTE: FOLLOWING SCENE TAKES SOME DIALOGUE FROM ANNE OF THE ISLAND)

It was a start, Gilbert thought as he walked hand in hand with his wife south towards the park. They spoke little and he did his best to be the carefree chum of old, doing his best to make his wife laugh. They'd spent a wonderful time eating their picnic at the park when he bit his lip before speaking. "Anne? I think we best talk about plans for next term… I mean, with us trying to send Mrs. Lynde to visit her daughter for a month or two and that we'll have the twins here with us in Kingsport. I agree, I don't want to be roommates with Charlie again, but I can't afford a single room not with all our other expenses. I've asked Fred to help me find work near Avonlea, but it won't pay the same as if I was in Charlottetown or even better here in Kingsport."

"Stella's coming, and she's suggested we find a house for herself, Priscilla and me. Dora will stay with us, they won't mind. She can share my room, but Davy. Yes, he certainly should not be exposed to Charlie's bad habits." She sat up primly. "But I'm afraid us girls will be also forced to stay in a boarding house for no matter how hard we look we've yet to find one we can afford."

They'd reached the crust of Spofford Avenue when Anne cried. "Gilbert," She clutched his arm. "There, you see? There's a sign for rent at Patty's Place. Oh that dear place. I rather doubt it's within our budget…"

"Anne, we can always ask."

He escorted Anne up the walk towards the quaint small house and knocked. Within minutes the door opened to a rather ancient looking handmaiden. She'd admitted them into a cozy parlor where two elderly ladies, sat knitting at a consistent slow pace. Grim and persistent. Gilbert gulped as he kept his hand on the small of Anne's back.

"We saw by your sign this house is to let." Gilbert said noticing his wife more interested in taking everything in then speaking. "Miss Patty Spofford I assume?" He addressed the elder of the two.

"Oh, yes." Said Miss Patty. "I intended to take that sign down today."

"Then— then we are too late," said Anne sorrowfully. "You've let it to someone else?"

"No, but we have decided to not let it at all."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Explained Anne clutching her hands to her heart. "I love this place so, I did nope we could have got it."

Gilbert watched as Miss Patty carefully laid down her knitting, took of her specs, rub them and put them on again staring at the two of them while the slightly younger lady did the same in the other wingback chair before the fire. Gilbert did his best to not laugh at the mimic that Miss Patty seemed to have.

"You love it." Miss Patty spoke with emphasis. "Does that mean you really love it? Or that you merely like the look of it? The girls nowadays indulge in such exaggerated statements that one can never tell what they do mean. It wasn't so in my young days. Then a girl did not say she loved turnips, in the same tone as she might have said she loved her mother or her Savior. And you young man? Do you love it, and are you her husband?"

Gilbert glanced quickly at Anne. He wasn't going to lie. "Yes, though it's a long story." He heard Anne gulp beside him and rushed to continue. "We wed this Christmas so that her guardian, Marilla who'd raised my wife would see us wed before my wife was made an orphan again and to protect my wife and the twins whom Marilla had also adopted. We've kept quiet about it, considering it a betrothal until we're done with school. A betrothal marriage until I'm a Doctor and my wife is a B.A. We were hoping for a place for my wife and two of her chums to rent instead of board. Especially as we'll need the twins, they're nine, to come stay with us in the fall for two months. I'll find a private room in a boarding house for Davy to stay with me…."

Anne spoke quickly. "I really do love it. I've loved it ever since I saw it last fall. We've been looking for a little place to rent, and when I saw this house I was so happy."

"If you love it, you can have it." Miss Patty said as she turned her knitting around to start another row. "Maria and I decided today that we would not let it after all, because we did not like any of the people who have wanted it. We don't have to let it. We can afford to go to Europe even if we don't let it. It would help us out, but not for gold will I let my house pass into the possession of such people as have come here and look at it. You are different. I believe you do love it and will be good to it. You can have it. For you and your husband will love it. For even if he doesn't love it, he clearly loves you."

"It would be just me and the girls, and if we can afford to pay what you ask for it." Anne spoke hesitantly.

Miss Patty named the amount required, and as Gilbert ran the numbers though his head. Even if they came public with their marriage and he chipped in they wouldn't afford it. He was about to speak, ask for anything to help his wife get her dream when she spoke first. "I'm afraid we can't afford quite so much," He heard a choke in Anne's voice. "You see, we are only college girls and we are poor, and I really must help Gilbert ensure he's a room without roommates to worry about corrupting Davy…"

Miss Patty stared at the two then staring Gilbert firmly in the eye until he had to look away she spoke. "Young man, you're in a peculiar place. Married, yet not living as man and wife. If you were to take the hired man's room in the barn and your wife with the other girls. Would we have questioning about the integrity of Patty's Place?"

"No ma'am." Gilbert shook his head. "It's not public knowledge as its hard to explain to gossips why we're not living as man and wife. It's easier to just let them assume we're just engaged. But I'll do nothing to chance Anne's reputation."

"And, if you were included with the girls. What could you afford?"

Gilbert glanced at Anne who named a number nearly half of what Miss Patty had said.

"That will do. As I told you, it is not strictly necessary that we should let it at all. We are not rich, but we have enough to go to Europe on. I never have been to Europe in my life, and never expected or wanted to go. But my niece there, Maria Spofford, has taken a fancy to go. Now you know a young person like Maria can't go globetrotting alone."

"No… I… I suppose not," murmured Anne, as Gilbert tried not to laugh at the serious expression on Miss Patty's face.

"Of course not. So I have to go along to look after her. Just as your husband must stay in the barn to look after you. I quite approve of this betrothal marriage idea, Maria's father my late brother would have done the same. So that is why I have to go along to look after her. I expect to enjoy it, too; I'm seventy years old, but I'm not tired of living yet. I daresay I'd have gone to Europe before if the idea had occurred to me. We shall be away for two years, perhaps three. We sail in June and we shall send you the key, and leave all in order for you to take possession when you choose. We shall pack away a few things we prize especially but all the rest will be left."

"Will you leave the china dog?" Anne pointed to the two proud dogs on either side of the fireplace between the two ladies.

"Would you like me to?"

"Oh indeed, yes. They are delightful."

Miss Patty smiled and nodded. "I think a great deal of those dogs, they're over a hundred years old, and they have sat on either side of this fireplace ever since my brother Aaron brought them from London fifty years ago. Spofford Avenue was called after my brother Aaron."

"A fine man he was," Said Miss Maria speaking for the first time. "Ah you don't see the like of him nowadays."

"He was a good uncle to you, Maria." Miss Patty reached over to pat her nieces hand. "You do well to remember him."

"I shall always remember him," Miss Maria spoke solemnly. "I can see him this minute, standing there before that fire, with his hands under his coat-tails, beaming on us. Your husband reminds me of him." Miss Maria took out her handkerchief wiping her eyes.

Miss Patty nodded. "I shall leave the dogs where they are, if you promise to be very careful of them, the children too."

"Yes." Anne spoke quickly.

"Their names are Gog and Magog. Gog looks to the right, and Magog to the left. If there's any concern with the children you will promise to pack them up? It would break my heart…"

"Yes." Gilbert said. "I'll make sure they're taken care of."

"Good. And there's just one thing more. You don't object, I hope, to this house being called Patty's Place?"

"No, indeed." Anne clapped her hands together. "We think, Gilbert, the girls and I, that this is one of the nicest things about it."

"You have sense, I see." Said Miss Patty with a tone of great satisfaction. "Would you believe it? All the people who came here to rent the house wanted to know if they couldn't put the name off the gate during their occupation of it. I told them roundly that the name went with the house. This has been Patty's Place ever since my brother Aaron left it to me in his will, and Patty's Place it shall remain until I die and Maria dies. After that happens, the next possessor can call it any fool name he likes. And now, wouldn't you like to go over the house and see it all before we consider the bargain made?"

Gilbert was impressed, besides the large living room that served as both parlor and sitting room, there was a kitchen behind that opened out onto the small farm yard and a small barn that was smaller then most barns in Avonlea, and beyond it an orchard. Also below on the main level was a bedroom that would serve for Stella's aunt who would come and keep house for them all, and a pantry off of the kitchen. Above were three rooms, one large and two small. He saw Anne delight over one of the small rooms, looking out into big pines and papered in blue. It had the air of dreaming that he knew his wife would love.

He'd inspected the barn, finding four stalls with a room in back. It had a pot bellied stove, and a cheery window overlooking the orchard. There was a single cot, a table, and closet. Simple but it would work for him and Davy. The best thing, there would be no Charlie. Sloane's were always best experienced in moderation, never on a constant basis.

He'd walked a beaming Anne home that afternoon. Bowed to her and promised to stop by to study with her in a few days. Before whistling on his way back to his own boarding house.

—

It was nearing supper, when Anne burst into her room, seeing Priscilla reading on her bed while Phil was flung on Anne's own bed.

"Anne, dear," Phil declared. "I'm tired o death. I feel like a man without a country, or was it without a shadow? I forgot which. Anyways, I've been packing out."

"And I suppose you are worn out, because you couldn't decide which things to pack first, or where to put them." Laughed Priscilla.

"E-zackly." Phil nodded. "And when I had got everything jammed in somehow, and my landlady and her maid had sat on it while I locked it, I discovered I had packed a whole lot of things I wanted for Convocation at the very bottom. I had to unlock the old thing and poke and dive into it for a hour before I fished out what I wanted. I would get hold of something that felt like what I was looking for, and I'd yank it up, and it would be something else. No, Anne, I did not swear."

"I didn't say you did."

"Well, you looked it. But I admit my thoughts verged on the profane. And I had such a cold in the head… I can do nothing but sniffle, sigh, and sneeze. Isn't that alliterative agony for you? Queen Anne, do say something to cheer me up… Your walk with your fiancé, betrothed I mean. You have a funny ways of putting it. I would think they mean the same thing."

"Naturally not." Anne gulped as she sat down on the bed beside Phil. "Fiancé means one might call it off… I gave my word. And remember, that next Thursday night, you'll be back in the land of Alec and Alonzo…"

Phil shook her head. "More alliteration. No I don't want Alec and Alonzo when I have a cold in the head. But what happened to you Anne? Did Gilbert kiss you on your picnic?"

"No." Anne shook her head swiftly.

"But I look closely and you seem all lighted up with an internal iridescence. Why you're actually shining. You're certain he did not make love to you on your picnic?"

"Yes Anne…" Priscilla added. "All shining…"

"Pricilla, I found us a house. For when Stella Maynard and her aunt who will keep house for us. Patty's Place, can you believe it! There's a sweet little blue room I loved, and when Dora comes to stay for a month or two in the fall, it'll be just big enough for her to squeeze in. We're going to live in Patty's place next winter. Live, mark you, not board! I've rented it…"

Phil bounced up, wiping her nose and fell on her knees before Anne.

"Girls, girls let me come too. Oh I'll be so good. If there's no room for me I'll sleep in that barn or that little doghouse in the orchard. I've seen it. Only let me come."

"Get up you goose." Priscilla laughed.

"I won't stir off my marrow bones til you tell me I can live with you next winter."

Anne and Priscilla looked at each other. Then Anne spoke slowly. "Phil dear, we'd love to have you. But we may as well speak plainly. I'm poor, Pris is poor, Sella Maynard is poor. Our housekeeping will have to be very simple and our table plain. You'd have to live as we would. Now, you are rich and your boarding house fair attest to the fact."

"Oh, what do I care for that?" Demanded Phil as she wiped her nose again. "Better a dinner of herbs where your chums are than a stalled ox in a lonely boardinghouse. Don't think I'm all stomach, girls. I'm willing to live on bread and water… with just a beetle jam, if you'll let me come."

"And then," Continued Anne. "There will be a good deal of work to be done. Stella's aunt can't do it all. We all expect to have our chores to do. Now, you…"

"Toil not, nor do I spin." Phil sighed. "But I'll learn to do things. You'll only have to show me once. I can make my own bed to begin with. And remember that, though I can't cook, I can keep my temper. That's something. And I never growl about the weather. That's more. Oh please, please! I never wanted anything so much in my life, and this floor is awfully hard."

"There's just one more thing." Priscilla spoke resolutely. "You, Phil as all Redmond knows, entertain callers almost every evening. Now at Patty's Place we can't do that. We have decided we stall be at home to our friends on Friday evenings only. If you come with us you'll have to abide by that rule."

"Well, you don't think I'll mind that, do you? Why I'm glad of it. I know I should have some such rule myself, but I hadn't enough decision to make it or stick to it. When I can shuffle off the responsibility on you it will be a real relief. If you won't let me cast in my lot with you I'll die of the disappointment and then I won't be able to go out or come in without falling over my spook."

Anne gulped, suddenly realizing that she'd yet to mention the barn and Gilbert. "Girls, there's one more thing. Miss Patty and her niece Maria took a shine to Gilbert. They took a shine to him and with my promises of proper chaperoning agreed to rent it, with condition that Gilbert tends to the barn and stays in the handyman's room in the barn."

"Anne…" Priscilla's eyes went wide. "I don't think it's a good idea that your fiancé."

"Betrothed." Phil laughed. "Remember she's very particular on terms."

"Betrothed then to stay at Patty's Place with us."

"He won't, he'll stay in the barn. Gilbert and I must take the twins for a month or two each fall for the requirements for the guardianship. It'll be ever so much easier with him close on hand and he will look out for all of us."

"We'll we'll need to consult with Stella." Priscilla sighed. "I don't think she'll object about Phil and as far as we're concerned you may come and glad welcome. If you get tired of our simple life, you can leave us, and no questions asked. But Gilbert? What were they thinking to let your fiancé and insisting on him staying on the same grounds."

Anne gulped. "Please, promise this doesn't leave this room. I… I'll tell Stella when I see her. Gilbert isn't my fiancé."

"Nope," Phil laughed. "Your betrothed."

"He's my husband." Anne gulped refusing to look at her two friends. "We're calling it a betrothal until we're done with school. But We had to marry last winter. I couldn't imagine neither Matthew or Marilla giving me away and we needed Gilbert to be the closest male relative to be guardian of Davy. I'm sorry I didn't tell you girls the truth this spring but… Oh, I got so tired explaining why back in Avonlea, and our decision to not live as man and wife. Per the requirements Davy must live with Gilbert over half the year and we're in Kingsport too long. We're calling it a betrothal marriage for we won't live as man and wife until we're both done with school, and Gilbert is aiming to pursue medical school after our four years here. People assume engaged and in a way that's true. We're engaged with a marriage license already signed. Truly it'll be years and years before we're truly married in all sense."

"Married!" Phil laughed. "Well I shalln't object to your husband guarding us ladies. And I don't blame you. If word got out here the gossip would be horrendous. I don't think there's ever been a married co-ed before you, Anne. Have you spoken to your advisor?"

"No…" Anne gulped. "Gilbert told Miss Patty the truth though. I'm to meet with my advisor next week before convocation. I guess I will in confidence. But I would rather not have the gossip I experienced in Avonlea. Only meeting Marilla's cousin Douglas at the funeral made most of Avonlea sympathetic when it came out we'd married and our plan for our betrothal marriage. We'll have another wedding and feast when we're ready… For that, to live as man and wife."

"I hope things will go right." Priscilla shook her head. "Between a secret husband in the barn and Phil joining us."

"We must make them go right." Anne smoothed out her skirts as she stood up. "I think Phil will fit into our 'happy little 'ome very well."

"And Gilbert?" Phil asked.

Anne gulped. "He plans to be quite self sufficient in that barn. Though we must have him up for meals. And Phil's a dear to rattle round with and be chums. And, of course, the more there are of us, the easier it will be on our slim purses. But how will she be to live with? Have have to summer and winter with anyone before you know if she's livable or not."

"By that I think you'll know with Gilbert come Christmas." Priscilla laughed. "I'll write to Stella now, unless you want to be the one to break the news of your secret husband?

"Oh, I won't mind if he's sneaking up to your room." Phil grinned. "Maybe the two of you should take one of the rooms if there's a double bed."

"Phil!" Anne felt her face flush. "There's a larger room with a double bed and two smaller. I'll take one of the small rooms and I'll procure a cot for Dora when she's visiting if the bed is not big enough. There's a room downstairs for Stella's Aunt and Gilbert will have the barn room, with Davy of course when he's here with us. You three girls can argue over the other two rooms."

"No boys upstairs I think." Priscilla said. "That goes for both of you girls. Even if he's your husband. If you need alone time with him, the barn will do."

"We certainly will not! We mean to wait…" Anne stuttered.

"Well if I were you I'd go to the hayloft." Phil coughed. "That's where I heard is the proper place to sneak a kiss, or more. I won't say a word, but you must tell us everything about the wedding."

"Yes." Priscilla laughed and the two jumped onto Anne's bed, with her in the middle while Anne began to recount her wedding.