Hello Friends!
I am pleased that this update was not as long in coming as the last one! I know this is a very expository chapter but I am keen to keep things moving!
Best Wishes
MrsVonTrapp x
Chapter Thirty Seven
Pay the Penalty of Growing-Up
Male Boarding House
Redmond College
Kingsport, Nova Scotia
October 13th 1884
Dear Ma and Dad
Thank you both for the fantastic birthday package which arrived in perfect time and helped make my day extra special. I can assure you I was spoilt the entire day with good wishes from many at the boarding house and a rather rousing celebration after football practice from the lads on the team. It is a great team again this year, with a few substitutions and new faces, and the retirement of a player by the name of George Peters, which for reasons I won't go into was happy news indeed for myself and team morale as a whole.
I collected a few of the lads as well as Charlie and Moody and we continued out to the charming house that Anne and her friends have rented, and she had organised the most tremendous party, complete with a wonderful layer cake she had baked herself. There were presents and further good wishes and I must say that my cup runneth over with thanks and gratitude. I feel well and truly humbled by all the good will, love and attention I have received!
Thank you, Ma, for the gorgeous jumper - it is certainly cold enough to wear it already and the forest-green color reminds me of the woods at home, and also of the rustling pines at the edge of the park here in Kingsport. I will wear it with pride. Thanks Dad, so much, for the cufflinks – they are brilliant and I'll be honoured to wear them next month at the Sophomore dance. It's all anyone in our class can talk about at the moment, and the thought of it is certainly livening up the drudge of work and assignments that are piling up already.
Anne sends both of you her love and our mutual friend Pris wanted me to especially send on her thanks for all your effort that time to get her letter out to Green Gables. It had a happy end, but I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy regarding the details!
At the end of yesterday evening, and almost eclipsing my own celebrations, was our excitement for Anne, whom I can tell you has just won a national competition for a story advertising a new baking powder called 'Rollings Reliable'! Her story will be printed in some of the national papers and also in pamphlets at general stores and wherever the baking powder might be sold. I am going round later today to see if I can rustle up some pamphlets, but Ma you'll probably have better luck than me in the village, so please look out for them. Anne is sure to turn her hand to more writing competitions now, on the strength of this success. I could not be prouder of her or more admiring of her talent. Anne and her housemates have made a busy and lively home for themselves, and you can imagine I visit often, and their chaperone, Stella's aunt (whom everyone calls Jimsie) is a kind and engaging lady with a twinkle in her eye. You'd feel perfectly at ease there, Ma – they now have THREE cats!
In amongst all these excitements, I promise you I am working hard and hope to make you both proud.
Your loving son
Gilbert
Green Gables
Avonlea P.E.I.
October 16th 1884
Dear Anne
I am writing this virtually as soon as I received your letter about your tremendous success in your writing competition.
I can't tell you how happy I am for you and that your talent is finally known to the world, having been known to me for so long.
You are very kind to say I inspired you to take your chance, and boy you have run with it! Marilla and Matthew and all at Green Gables will be delighted for you. I am going into town later this morning to post this and to see whether the general store has any of the pamphlets that you mentioned with your story printed on them.
Never forget how you have always inspired me, too. I'll have you know that I am a respectable member of the community now, having rented an empty store in town. Not to sell anything, of course, but as a workspace. I could hardly see what I was doing up in the loft of the barn. It is pretty plain but there's so much more room and a proper area for all my equipment. I don't know if the good folk of Avonlea have quite known what to make of it. I am now splitting my time between the store and the farm. Honestly, it's almost as much work to set up the hired help each day as it is to do it all myself. I have been tempted to engage Fred Wright for the days I can't be on the farm as I know he has been taking on extra paid work saving for he and Diana, and of course he's an excellent farmer, but I think it would be a bit awkward. If he ever asks, though, the work is his.
I'd better leave off now. I send late birthday greetings to Gilbert and I'm glad everything about his party went well, for you and for him. Told you not to worry so much!
Congratulations again
Tom x
Orchard Slope
Avonlea, P.E.I.
October 17th 1884
Dearest Anne
I love receiving your letters and staying connected to all the exciting goings-on in Kingsport. It certainly helps to liven the quieter times here in Avonlea! After our busy summer it WAS nice to take a breath and readjust to life back home. Although I can't say I miss studying French cookery terms, I do miss all the people and companionship back in Kingsport, most especially yours. Your little Patty's Place seems a charming and hospitable abode, especially with all those cats! I must say unfortunately Mother has a dislike of them, so naturally one of the first things I will do as a married woman is introduce a cat to our home, wherever that will be.
Mother at least is far more occupied with wedding arrangements, though it all does feel very faraway at present, and honestly I am still enjoying being actually engaged, though darling Fred seems to have a real fire in his belly to save for a little house for us, with a small acreage we could tend, and is trying to make any savings he can at the Wright farm, as well as taking any paying farm and labouring work nearby. He's working so hard and I'm so very proud of him! Great Aunt Josephine, who is Father's aunt really, up in Charlottetown, sent us a very lovely engagement gift and letter, which was so good of her considering she has not been in the best of health for a long time now. Fred insisted on penning the thank you note himself, he is so diligent that way, and received another note in return, so I feel he has found a way to manage all my relations now! I must say Aunt Jo was a real tartar in her day and I used to be terrified of her. She was always threatening to cancel my piano lessons if I didn't tow the line. But she has mellowed much in recent years and I feel if she approves of our wedding, let nothing else stop us!
And certainly nothing is stopping YOU, Anne, and I'm so proud! I adored your story and no wonder it won that competition. Our congratulations to you! You are so imaginative and have a wonderful way with words! It reminded me of all manner of romantic stories I used to read when I was younger. Blair's here in the village has a section dedicated to the new baking powder and I have saved many pamphlets, sending them all across the country, from Jane Inglis out in Winnipeg to Ruby, who is still up in Charlottetown herself, trying her hand at some secretarial work. Everyone is delighted for your success and Tom has gone round telling anyone who will listen, when he's not busy himself with his creations. I'm sure you know of his new store in town? He's attracted all manner of interest and although he didn't intend to set up goods for sale there I wouldn't be surprised if some folk manage to twist his arm to sell his samples and seconds in the weeks before Christmas. A goodly number of people would welcome his wares under their tree, I'm sure!
I'm delighted Gilbert's party went well – I knew you would have nothing to worry about! Honestly everything you touch turns to gold, Anne! I am so glad you are enjoying your time at Redmond and with the girls and of course with Gilbert. You so deserve to be happy! And Gilbert is naturally over the moon most days to have you with him. He sent a very sweet note after his birthday, praising both your baking – and your writing – to the heavens.
Well, darling Anne, I must away, and continue work on my hope chest. At the moment I'm tackling doilies. Myra Gillis had thirty-seven doilies when she got married, and I'm determined to have at least as many as she had! *
Fred sends his love, as do I, a thousand-fold.
Your friend
Diana xxx
Patty's Place
Spofford Avenue
Kingsport, Nova Scotia
October 20th 1884
Darling Tom
Oh, it feels an age since I last saw you! I seized your last letter and greedily devoured it, returning to it all that weekend and closing my eyes to imagine you in your little workspace in Avonlea. I am so happy that you are so busy but I urge you not to take too much on yourself! Though knowing Miss Cuthbert, I am sure she is ensuring you eat well, at any rate. These cookies that I've sent along will hardly compare with her pastries, or Mrs Lynde's for that matter, and I haven't made them in so long, but they went over very well with the girls and so I now feel confident enough to send a batch of them onto you. It was a genius idea to give me your store address so that no suspicions would be raised by my package, as I have longed to send something more to you than my love, though hopefully that has been enough to date!
I am sure you have heard by now about Anne's literary success. She told me how much you had encouraged her and that she used to write stories of you both when you were separated all those long years. It is so like Anne to turn tragedy into triumph. That is something you both have in common. Everyone has been lovely about us and our secret. It was a little while before I confided in Phil and Stella, whom I studied with at Queen's, though as you know Anne guessed right away. Everyone has been so encouraging, though, and it is such a wonder to be able to share news of your achievements with those who are so happy for us. I am just so sorry that it is much more difficult for you to do the same. And you mustn't worry, Tom, about not getting out to Spencervale or encountering my parents as yet – and forgive me for I am reading between the lines here - I don't want you to take that upon yourself. This was never your problem to try to solve, as noble as your intention to try to might be. I feel that Herb Spencer's letters are becoming shorter and less regular, so the first part of my plan to throw him off may be succeeding.
Christmas at the moment seems very far away and I long to see you again. In this I admit to being a little envious of Anne and Gilbert, much as I am delighted in their happiness. I wish we both had the chance to spend some time just sitting and talking and enjoying being with one another. Though I'd love to see you, Tom, so, so much, what I tell you now is in no way an obligation… but there is an upcoming dance just for the Sophomore class next month. It is sure to be a lovely occasion, and not overly formal. I will enclose all the particulars. I know how incredibly difficult it is for you to get away, and you must not interrupt any schedule you have for either the farm or your woodworking… but if you are able to come at all, you would have a very willing dance partner, and can be assured of a rapturous reception, not only from myself x
As I write I am staring at my beautiful bouquet figurine, which helps keep you constantly in my thoughts, and I send this letter along with a kiss, and the cookies with my love.
Yours, ever
Pris x
Green Gables
Avonlea, P.E.I.
25th October 1884
Dearest Pris
I miss you too, more than words (especially my own inadequate words) could properly express. If you imagine yourself here with me, please for God's sake let it be somewhere far nicer than my workspace in town. It is bare and plain and smells of sweat and sawdust. Imagine us instead walking around Green Gables, or at the Carmody Fair, or the day at the shore that you and Anne organised over summer, or even that very first walk around the orchards at Diana's, when I learned how much you had known of my past when at that stage I dared not think a moment of my future.
Now I think of the future all the time. Tomorrow, next week, next month. Next month when I come up to you in Kingsport. l would be so incredibly honoured and delighted to accompany you to the Sophomore dance. I can't stop grinning at the idea of it, and since you know how VERY fond of dancing I am, the fact that I am still grinning tells you everything about my feelings for you. My love for you is stronger than my fear of being found out to be a hopeless clod.
I am delighted for Anne's success too. Far more than for my own modest achievements. I don't know if I will ever quite shake the feeling that I owe her… that my good fortune, at least in the early days, came at her expense. I guess that is just the way of it, with Anne and I, but with every happy anecdote I learn of her life, with every academic achievement and now her writing too, I grow more at peace with it. It brings me such happiness to know that you are both in Kingsport together, enjoying your house with the other girls, and being in each other's lives. I can even hardly be jealous of Anne and Gilbert, only I also wish that for us. And with that in mind, I will tell you of an upcoming excursion I will be making to Spencervale – all business I assure you, for I find I have need of an excellent bookkeeper to help me make sense of my commissions and new ventures, and someone who might glance over any possible future contracts. I wonder if you might know of anyone?!
Thank you for your marvellous cookies. The boy in me wanted to devour them all at once, but I am instead savouring them two a day. I also shared them with Marilla and Matthew when the twins and Rachel were not about, and I can say they both send on their hearty compliments. They also send their love and wish you continued enjoyment of your studies. They are so very happy for us, too, and share their support of us in so many ways.
If you are able to tell me the color of your dress in advance, I will try to match my tie to it. I hear courting couples try to do that these days.
With all my love
Tom x
Pension Bertolini
Via Margutta 51 **
Roma, Italia
October 26th 1884
Dear Anne
It is always a wonderful thing, to see a letter with a Canadian postmark, for I know it is sure to be a missive from your good self. Imagine I am smiling (well, at least on the inside!) as I open it and pause with a strong (typically very strong!) Italian coffee to read your words.
And I had so many more words to read on this occasion. I applaud your success in your recent competition, and though I am a virtual stranger to baking in any respect, I scanned your story eagerly and with a smile that may have indeed been noted on the outside as well. Thank you for sending a copy to me, and do not decry, as you say, its flowery language and obvious metaphors. You wrote for a purpose, expressly for a particular brief and likely audience, and absolutely found your mark. That takes talent and skill, and courage to attempt it in the first place. Your writing will be a valuable asset as you make your way in the world. Congratulations on this first step!
We are all, Anne, trying to make our way in the world. Once my own path felt dark and narrow and torturous. Now it is expansive and sun-drenched. I fear that you would no longer recognise me. Or, perhaps, that is more a hope that you wouldn't. I wish never again to be that creature who lived a life so small and grey. Admittedly, Anne, you were the only light in it. There, I am growing positively sentimental. Perhaps it is down to all these dramatic Italians around me.
I grow weary of tutoring and feel, now that my Italian is up to scratch, that I may be best served in some other role, where I can play linguist and converse with adults for a change. I mean to apply to the diplomatic services or some such, perhaps as a secretary. You know, I originally trained for that, all those long years ago. I do like to bring order to chaos, as you well know, and nothing to my mind would be more chaotic than a newly-arrived Englishman, American or Canadian trying to make sense of things here without the language or appropriate knowledge of customs and traditions. And the Italians so love their traditions!
I am also very glad, put simply, that you are happy, Anne. Happy in your studies, your friends and obviously in your romantic life. Please remember me to Gilbert Blythe. I am delighted he is keeping up his friendship with the most excellent Dr McCubbin. I do not forget for a moment what I owe to all of you. I am forever known here as bastone da passeggio signorina (walking stick lady) and it is a moniker I wear with pride.
Be well, la mia amica
Katherine
From the Office of the Dean
Redmond College
October 28th 1884
Dear Miss Shirley
I first write to commend you on your exemplary conduct and outstanding academic record since our interview last year regarding your unscheduled leave in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
I am assured by staff that you are already well on your way to continued academic success this year, and have been a fine and most deserving recipient of the Thorburn scholarship.
With that in mind, I am writing to yourself and a number of your fellow students to inform you of the situation for scholarships and bursaries for students in their Sophomore year. Traditionally, we have been able to offer a small number of modest scholarships across disciplines, including in English. Unfortunately, this year, one of our chief benefactors for these scholarships has had to withdraw their financial support due to unforeseen personal circumstances. This affects the two scholarships previously on offer in English and Classics, which are now regrettably no longer available for the foreseeable future.
As I know that particular students may be reliant on the possibility of a scholarship with regard to their studies, I wanted to write to you at the earliest opportunity to inform you of this situation so that you may make preparations, even now, for a smooth transition into your Junior year. The Thorburn scholarship remains unchanged and unaffected, and will continue to cover tuition, including books and materials, throughout your Sophomore year.
I would like to note that the Thorburn remains open to you whether you continue your studies this year in person or by correspondence, or a combination thereof.
I apologize for this news and wish you well in your personal arrangements. I am available by appointment at any time to discuss the matter with you further.
Yours Sincerely
Prof. J. Evans Pritchard, Ph.D. ***
Dean of Students
Redmond College
Orchard Slope
Avonlea, P.E.I.
November 2nd 1884
Dearest Anne
Oh, goodness, I write this note to you with very mixed feelings. As I said in my last letter, Fred has been working hard to save money for us and had made up so much ground with my parents. He had even gotten into the good graces of my Great Aunt Josephine up in Charlottetown.
Well, Anne, the awful news out of Charlottetown is that Aunt Jo has passed away. She had been ill for some time – the past year, really – but seems to have taken a turn in the last few weeks. Father last went up to her about a fortnight ago and she was weak but still strong in character. However, it appears she went very quickly downhill after that time and we had the sad news several days ago.
Her very efficient lawyer was in contact with us shortly thereafter with the details of Aunt Jo's will. She has been very generous to our family as a whole – we were virtually her closest relatives, you know – and left Minnie May and I several beautiful heirlooms and pieces of jewellery. She had also arranged for some money to be kept in trust for each of us for when we both turn 21. But oh, Anne! There's so much more! She made a recent late addition to her will to include Fred, and she has separately left him a thousand dollars. Can you even comprehend it?
I couldn't and poor Fred certainly can't. Oh, she has given us the most wonderful gift, Anne, and been so clever about it! You see, Fred has been determined to save for a down payment on a farm of our own, and we had both been reconciled to the fact it would naturally take us a long time – we have figured three years – until we could manage it, and so naturally a wedding couldn't take place before then. I could hardly see us moving in here with Mother, let alone Mrs Wright! But what this means is that we can now marry a year earlier at least, possibly even next summer! Fred will certainly have saved enough, alongside this tremendous new sum, and Aunt Jo having left the money to Fred and not me means he feels finally that the family has accepted him, or at least they now must do, and he can finance a home for us.
It really is all too much! I'm so sorry I have gabbled on all about me and our news and not a question about you, Anne. I really don't have my wits about me today. After the will I have needed to write this all down just to make sense of it. I hope you will forgive me and I promise to be a better correspondent with my next letter.
Your distracted friend
Diana xxx
Summerside Home for Girls
Summerside, P.E.I.
November 4th 1884
Dear Miss Anne
It was very kind of you to send us an update with regards to your studies at Redmond College and I am pleased to hear you continue to enjoy the social and academic aspects of your course.
Miss Brooke has regularly appraised us of her Italian adventures and no doubt yourself also. It is such a fine example to set our girls, to know that two of our former tutors have so successfully made their way and are embracing their opportunities.
As to your enquiry, we only have three girls preparing for the entrance exam to the teaching course at Summerside Academy for this current academic year. The others of an age have been disinclined to further study and have been pursuing separate interests with regards their future beyond the Home. Dressmaking is currently proving quite popular. Those who are engaged in their exam preparation are under the instruction of Miss Baker, who is now on staff in a permanent role with the departure of yourself and more lately, Miss Brooke. Therefore, we have no requirement of your services in tutoring over the Christmas break, but as always you will be most welcome to join us to stay for the festive season and until your term resumes in the new year.
I will certainly remember you to Matron, Miss Baker and the resident girls, in particular, Martha Mayerling.
Most Sincerely
Mrs R. Llewelyn
Director
Summerside Home for Girls
Curtis Publishing Company Pty Ltd ****
Submissions Department
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
November 16th 1884
Dear Miss Shirley
We regret to return the enclosed manuscripts, 'Rosemond's Revenge' and 'Cordelia's Conundrum', but are unable to accept them for publication.
Sincerely Yours
Women's Home Journal ****
Chapter Notes
The chapter title is taken from Anne of the Island Ch 23 'Paul Cannot Find the Rock People' "You must pay the penalty of growing-up, Paul. You must leave fairyland behind you."
*Hello, Sullivan series!
**Here I had great fun with Katherine's address in Rome, using for inspiration two of my favourite things – the first is Lucy Honeychurch's famed lodgings in Florence in A Room with a View, and the second is Gregory Peck's address as reporter Joe Bradley in the film Roman Holiday, which is actually very close to the Spanish Steps (and quite likely far out of Katherine's price range, even then!)
With mention of A Room with a View, I must make mention of the recently confirmed tragic passing of Julian Sands, who was such a romantic, memorable and charming George Emerson in the beautiful 1986 adaptation and let's face it, probably an early crush for many of us. Vale, Julian x
***Another love of mine – and those who have read Betwixt will know it! – is Dead Poet's Society. The moniker here is borrowed from the Dr (I have given him as Dean a Professor title here) whose preface entitled 'Understanding Poetry' met a very unfortunate end. Be gone, J. Evans Pritchard, Ph.D.!
****Hello again, Sullivan series! This is the note Gilbert reads at the beginning of The Sequel/Anne of Avonlea, barring changes made regarding the submissions! (I am sure, for narrative purposes, you will forgive the liberty regarding the magazine's extraordinarily speedy submissions department!)
The name and address for the publishing arm of Women's Home Journal is taken from the short scene preceding this when Anne collects her envelope from Mrs Harrison and Mrs Sloane at the post office.
And some correspondence…
Guest of June 13th (Ch 36): Thank you dear Guest for your lovely words and also for your reread – that is quite a task as some of my chapters went to 13,000 words back in the day! Ridiculous! Now, of course, I have learnt to pace myself a little better, though pesky life does seem to get in the way! I hope that everything still hung well for you, even with all these stops and starts over these many years! Thank you so much for your comment and I hope you enjoy this newest update x
Guest of June 17th (Ch 36): Dear Guest, thank you for your lovely note and I am so glad you ae enjoying this! I have very much loved writing Anne and Gilbert at Redmond together. And yes Rusty – I could not leave him out! I did want to have Anne be more enthusiastic about him from the beginning and to definitely avoid all the attempts to 'shoo' him from canon! Your own experience with protective cats obviously makes you and Anne kindred spirits!