Marilla

What had seemed such a delicious adventure when Marilla Lynde stood on the solid beach soon turned to horror as they sailed away, and her stomach lurched uncomfortably. She had felt a bit squeamish on the rowboat but hoped that it would settle once she gained the safety of the ship. Jacob stared at her curiously, trying out one of his new words, 'green.' A simple enough word but it did for Marilla who spewed her breakfast out in a colourful spray splattering it in a wide arc across the deck.

"Oops a daisy," said older Marilla calmly, she after all had been there and seen it often enough. She led the stricken girl over to a bench and sat her down with a bucket and rubbed her back comfortingly saying, "Gilbert would you be a dear and fetch Marilla a glass of water?"

Gilbert did as he was asked and mentioned to the cook Isaiah on his way past that the girl was unwell. "Lemme take care of it, Gilbert," he said. "I got the perfect concoction for seasickness. Tell Missus Blythe it'll be ready d'rectly."

They had engaged Isaiah in Jamaica a few years back when their old cook had jumped ship. He had become a steadying and friendly influence on board. Anne in particular had enjoyed his company as he had kept her supplied with treats and stories from the islands. But poor Marilla had never seen a black man before and visibly recoiled into the older woman's skirts when he appeared smiling gently carrying a cup of his favourite bush medicine.

Older Marilla smiled back at him apologetically and took it from him without a word. Later she would have to have a word with the girl but now was not the time. "Now try to sip this dear," she said. "Isaiah really does have the best remedies." Just the thought of imbibing anything else made the younger Marilla's stomach lurch. Familiar with the movement older Marilla moved out of the way just in time. "Want to go to bed," moaned the young girl.

"You really are better out here in the fresh air," Marilla advised. "It can be quite close in the cabin." Little Susanna had been sleeping throughout, but she began to stir. Now Marilla really had her hands full. The crew were busy in the rigging setting the sails, Gilbert had his hands full with Johnny and Jacob and Marilla had a sick girl and a baby to tend to. She wished, not for the first time, that Anne had not abandoned ship.

Truth be told, initially Anne had taken a few days to acclimatise as well, but Marilla had not been encumbered with an extra child at that point. Still now she had to take control. "Drink," she commanded the young girl. Tentatively Young Marilla took the cup in both hands wincing at the taste but noting the unyielding look in Marilla's eyes she downed it in a few big gulps. "Good girl," said Marilla kindly. "Now give me a moment will you, I just need to feed the baby. I'll be back soon." Young Marilla looked after her for a moment then closed her eyes. As disgusting as the stuff was, she did feel marginally better for it.

"Where's Marilla, er Mrs Blythe?" John asked interrupting her reverie. Marilla felt almost better enough to joke that she was Marilla but thought the better of it when she saw his stern countenance. "She's gone below to nurse, I think," she explained.

"It's too confusing having two Marilla's on board this ship. What can I call you instead?"

"At school," Marilla said quietly. "They used to call me Mari."

"Wonderful, you can be Mari, that'll make life easier," he said gruffly. "Are you feeling any better?" Being the captain John knew everything that happened on his ship. He was not unsympathetic he too had felt as she did in his day. And even now on very stormy nights had been known to lose his dinner over the side; but one just had to get on with it and move on. "Mm hm," she tried nodding then thought the better of it. "A little. Someone gave me something to drink and that helped a little." She showed him the dregs of her drink.

"Ah, Isaiah gifted you one of his remedies, did he? You're lucky, he doesn't share that with everyone. I've never got to the bottom of what's in it. Tastes awful, does wonders. Keep on his right side, Mari and you'll do just fine." John nodded to her and strolled up the deck to inspect the work the crew were doing. A word here and a nod there made them feel secure.

Mari watched him go and got to her feet. Unsteadily she made her way to the side of the ship and reached out to grasp it for stability then turned her gaze upon the ocean. In the distance the island was just slipping over the horizon. Tears came unbidden to Mari's eyes. What had she done? Would she ever see her home again? Now there was nothing to see but the rolling waves rocking this ghastly little ship about. In her abject misery she did not notice all the wonders that were around. She did not see the gulls soaring around the masts, the dolphins playing in the bow wave. She did not notice the way the sun-sparkled water glittered all around. She could not see any of it through her tears. All she could think was how foolish she had been to make such a rash decision. No wonder her mother had said no. At the thought of her dear mama Mari put her head on her forearms and sobbed.

Marilla found her slumped against the side with tear stained cheeks and red swollen eyes. "Come now, Marilla. All will be well. Let's get you sorted and in the morning, we'll show you how we work here. I'll be needing your help more than ever. The boys keep us on our toes and the baby will take up much of my time," chatting away Marilla led the girl to her cabin and showed her where everything was.

The next morning Mari did feel marginally better. The large black man, Isaiah had given her more of his remedy and that settled her stomach somewhat. She asked but he refused to divulge what was in it, "secret family recipe," was all that he would say as he tapped his nose. "Liddle bit o' this and a liddle bit o' that," he said flashing his teeth, they seemed so very brightly white in his dark face. Initially she had been frightened, but now she was coming to understand how kind he was.

Mari had wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, the prospect of getting up did not appeal and she feigned slightly worse sickness than she felt. "Oh no you don't," said Marilla. "I know you want to stay here, but you have a job to do. You have to get up. We'll get you some breakfast." She looked at the girl going pale at the thought, "yes you'll feel better with some food in you and get you out into the fresh air. For today you just have to scrub the decks. I'll give you a bucket for the water and a bucket for yourself. You just have to keep moving, you can't succumb." *

It was a long day for both Marillas. Marilla Blythe had to keep her boys out of trouble and tend to the baby. Jacob and Johnny seemed determined to rediscover every nook and cranny they had missed while they had been on land. They zoomed around the deck getting into everything. The crew were good natured about it, but Marilla could see John getting increasingly frustrated by their antics. She wished she had eyes in the back of her head. Gilbert was a help but even with his assistance it proved a long and arduous day.

On the other hand, Mari Lynde spent her day with her head in one of two buckets. Much to her chagrin more than once she gotten them mixed up and had to ask a crewman to wash it out. At days' end she crawled into bed utterly spent and completely washed out knowing with a sinking heart that she'd have to do it all again tomorrow. Why o' why had she been so foolish?

Anne

Rachel stormed into the Green Gables kitchen shortly after Matthew and Anne arrived home. She had been watching out for their buggy and hurried up the laneway after them. "Now, now this won't do, it won't do at all," she said. "It's not right for a young girl to live alone with a bachelor as you well know Matthew. Anne may visit as often as I can spare her, but she must live with us." Anne looked across at Matthew in some panic, that was not what she had envisaged. Matthew opened his mouth to protest on her behalf, but Rachel was adamant, "no, I mean it. She may not stay here, what would the neighbours say? It's the lack of propriety that I worry about, that's what. Not that you'd do anything I'm sure," she softened momentarily, "but it looks unseemly." Anne made to gather Goliath up into her arms when Rachel interrupted, "no I will not have that animal in my house again. It's too messy and unruly. It can stay here with you, Matthew. Goodness knows you're used to living with enough animals already. Come Anne," she said imperiously. She stood by the door waiting for Anne to make her farewells and pushed her through the door. Anne had no choice but to go with her.

As they walked back down the laneway Rachel said. "Since my Marilla joined Mrs Blythe on that infernal ship I find myself without her help. You can assist me with my children instead. You may go to school if you like, but afterwards I will need you to fix dinner and put them to bed. Have you been to school before? Anne was rather in a state of shock, her plans were all going awry and she had barely listened to a word Rachel had spoken.

"I'm sorry," Anne said confused. "What was the question?"

"School. Have you been to school?" Rachel enunciated the words very precisely as if she were talking to an idiot. "Goodness child, I believe you were miles away, I hope you will pay better attention in future."

"Er, yes, at the asylum we were sent to school," Anne trailed off as she remembered long dull afternoons and strict, disinterested teachers, but she forced herself back to the present when she noticed Mrs Lynde was still talking. "... find some of Marilla's dresses for you. Goodness only knows what she'll find to wear on the ship. I don't think she'll fit into your clothes, you're smaller than she. Still I suppose..." Anne drifted off again. She put her hand up to stroke Goliath and realised that of course he was still up at Green Gables. Her shoulder felt empty without him there. He had been her constant companion since Mrs Blythe had bought him for her. What had she done? She had deserted kind Mrs Blythe and it was all for naught as her plans came unstuck in a matter of moments. She had not meant for this to happen. She had not wanted to trade a life of adventure for a life bound to the Lynde family. Despite herself a small sob escaped and Rachel looked at her curiously. "I should think you'd be happy with this arrangement. I can't imagine anything worse than being on a ship, you did well to escape. It was a bit devious to leave it to the last minute, but I admire you. And now you can help me," she patted Anne's hand, "and get yourself an education. I'm sorry I could not leave you with Mr Cuthbert, but you'd have to admit that was out of the question."

Standing on the beach watching the ship ride the anchor it had come to Anne quite suddenly that her place was with Mr Cuthbert, there had been not a shred of deviousness about it, but she did not want to be parted. She had never met anyone quite like him; in his quiet graceful way he had welcomed her on her own merit in a way that no one, not even Mrs Blythe had ever done. It had not occurred to her that they would not be allowed to stay together, and now she was stuck. She was not even permitted to keep the monkey. Poor Goliath, he would be so confused and she knew that Mr Cuthbert did not love the animal, but tolerated it for her sake. It seemed a lot to ask Mr Cuthbert to keep him.

She was unable to think about much of anything when they arrived at Lynde Hollow and Rachel handed her the baby and asked her to change her. A litany of chores followed and eventually after the dishes were washed and dried she fell into Marilla Lynde's bed and wondered why o' why had she been so foolish?

* If this sounds cruel it is what happened to me. Thankfully I never needed the second bucket.

A/N someone commented that there may be problems going forward if Anne were to be adopted. At this time adopted children were considered as close as biological ones, thus any relationship between her and Gilbert would be taboo. Guess that clears up one plot point, ie Anne will not be adopted.