Norman Douglas watched with interest from outside Carter Flagg's s general store as the shiny black Ford drove slowly down Glen's main street. Driving it seemed to be a very competent looking man in a gray uniform.

It was June 1919 and the Glen had been abuzz for days about the first Blythe-Meredith wedding coming soon, even more than about the fact that The Treaty of Versailles would be concluded relatively soon, as a result of nearly two years of negotiations in Paris, in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

The car window opened and Norman saw the face of a dark haired young man in the shadows who inquired in a friendly but slightly arrogant tone, "Dear sir, can you advise the way to Ingelside, I think we've gone astray?"

Norman full of his usual bombast walked over to the car and leaned heavily against the door and looked in at the occupants of the car wearing stylish hats as he said, "You must be wedding guests, either acquaintances of either of the twins or the Reverend lad, I think."

A brown-haired girl in a pale blue dress, cut looser than anyone in the Glen, smiled mischievously at the dark-curled youth as she murmured with a hint of dimples, " Dorian, I told you we turned too late, we should have turned at the Manse and gone up the hill the other way, to the left and not to the right. But you refused to listen, for Miss Roberts did not come with us, of course she did not, as she has previous duties as performers usually do, two more performances when we left Kingsport. But she will be here in time, as promised."

Norman hid his smile, as he found he liked the dark-haired girl, she had sense of young Ellen in her, as she seemed to say her opinion with a steadfast wim. The dark haired youth just smiled lazily as he remarked, "Well, Sue, you keep me on my toes as always, which is pleasant, though not always appropriate. Your observation about Miss Roberts is correct, but I would have liked to spare her the grueling journey."

Norman noticed that at those humorous words the dark haired girl raised her chin, as if to position herself for battle, as she said pointedly, "Miss Roberts is widely traveled, I suppose, so she has no need for your favours, but now we have to focus on Nan, and she's already waiting for us."

And with a small, invitingly friendly smile, the girl reached out to squeeze Norman's large hand, with her gloved dainty hand, as she said, "Thank you for your instructions, sir?"

Norman Douglas swiped his red-gray luxuriant beard as he rumbled, "I'm Norman Doulgas."

And to his great amusement, Norman noticed that the girl's eyes were the same shade as his beloved Ellen's, but with more of a hint of gray. The Ford drove onwards furiously, and Glen's little children, some of the Douglases and and the kins of Kirkes from Upper Glen ran a few paces after the car.

There was a sense of upcoming celebration in the air.

That same evening, Ellen Douglas cast a searching glance at her husband, as she looked up from Rosemary's recommended short story, "Indian Summer of an Forsythe," which was artful but almost too sentimental for Ellen's taste, and Irene Heron Forsythe reminded the very young Rosemary, her melancholy passivity, after her dissapointment, as she remarked, "Norman, you've been in an exceptionally good mood all evening, are you so excited about the upcoming wedding?"

Norman put his pipe down on the table and said honestly, "Ellen, Ellen, John's son could marry worse than one of the twins, Nan will do him good, I'm sure. I happened to meet some stray wedding guests earlier and that encounter was interesting. I think this wedding will be more interesting than usual, at least the share of outsiders will be higher."

Ellen gracefully raised her brow, and as she did so thought of the rumors that were going round the streets of the Glen, Mary Vance had been Mary Douglas for some months, and it was said that Irene Howard had put her cap on Shirley Blythe, though Ingelside's Susan Baker vehemently denied it, on every occasion. And the Fords were back in the House of Dreams, it seemed that Anne Blythe's youngest and Leslie Ford's son were walking out. Olive Howard was expecting her second child. Di Blythe and Persis Ford left the wedding arrangements to others more capable hands over Ingelside, and sat on the reddish rocks near Four Winds point and discussed politics, and the new trends in literature, or so Mary Vance had told Una Meredith in passing.

Una was still a sweet piece of womanhood not as flashy as her elder sister, who walked by Jem's side, as they both enjoyed down time after hectic term of Redmond, as Ellen had herself seen them all loverling away in the verdant high summer of Glen, as she had came down for an afternoon to Manse, as she had gone down for an afternoon to be of help to Rosemary.

Rosemary and Una were indeed rushed all over this wedding, despite Nan Blythe, soon to be Nan Meredith's various plans, which were almost as effective as those of Rilla Blythe of former Junior Reds, or so Mary Vance had pointed out to Una. Una had smiled in her old half-wistful way, as she had turned her eyes towards the piano, where there had been a more mixed pile of notes than usual. And Ellen, while tasting the tea poured by Rosemary, had found herself wishing that with time Una would also find purpose and zest in her life. Rosemary had fixed Bruce's collar as he ran by with a smile, as the girls' voices had faded away.

Pointedly, Ellen closed Galsworthy's novel, saying, "The next important wedding after this one, who knows whose it will be."

Norman Douglas tapped his pipe purposefully on the tabletop as he remarked, "Well, Glen's youth have plenty to choose from, though not as plentiful as before 1914. And not everyone finds true love young, it took us our time before you agreed El." Ellen snorted as she reposted sarcastically, "Well, this house had to have a reasonable mistress, which I have been all these years."


At Ingelside's parlor Anne Blythe watched intently as Dorian Gardner, dressed in pale linen, walking sticks close at hand, discussed Kingsport news with Di. With immense relief, Anne admitted to herself that Dorian bore almost no resemblance to his father, Royal, except in the darkness of his hair and a slight profile. He was polite but a little shy in a sweet way and interested in everything.

Dorian looked up and smiled charmingly, and Anne openly returned that smile, as Gilbert nodded to Dorian and said in his familiar way, "Well, Dorian, welcome to Ingelside, I think you'll have a good time here."

Nan laughed brightly as she sat on the carpet next to the lovely Sue Ridley who was watching Gog and Magog with interest. Rilla sat next to the dark-haired girl and quietly began to explain the background of the porcelain dogs.

Smiling sheepishly, Dorian set his teacup down on the small table and said warmly, "Ingelside is even more beautiful and homely than I could have imagined, Mistress Blythe. It is just as I was told, but I didn't quite believe it. My Aunt Dorothy asked me to pass her warmest greetings on to you, she is traveling now."

Anne, laughed gently as she remarked, "Little Dorothy, was always so sweet, but impish with it. Where does she travel?"

Dorian shrugged as he replied, "In Switzerland," that gesture was like Royal to a tee. Anne slowly came to the conclusion that Dorian resembled his unknown mother on the surface, but the Gardiner stamp was still surprisingly strong in him. Luckily none of her lasses seemed interested in Dorian, Rilla had stars in her eyes for dear Ken and Nan for Jerry. For a few moments Anne had been worried about Di, but then she had noticed that Di was treating Dorian a little like her own brothers, but with a little more patience.

Di, looked out into the verdant twilight with a slightly dreamy expression, and Dorian said lightly, "Well Di, I've been several months without your piano music, would you?" And with a slight astonishment, Anne found that the cozy atmosphere of Ingelside slowly turned into a hauntingly atmospheric one, as Di conjured from the ivories well-known ballad, "By the Light of the Silv'ry Moon."

Susan murmured under her breath, "Rilla sings this better than anyone named Howard."

Shirley, coming in from fishing with Carl at this juncture, of the evening, crept up to Susan's side and said matter-of-factly, "If the Glen girls want to dance, isn't it our duty as men to do our best for them, Mother Susan. Di is quite impressive, as she caresses those ivories."

Susan placed her work-hardened hand gently on Shirley's pale sleeve as she said emphatically, "Yes, but be more selective my little brown boy." A subdued humor flashed in Shirley's eyes as he gravely remarked, "I can promise I am."


About a day before the wedding, the afternoon train arrived at Glen station. The station master noticed that a slender, well-portioned figure of a woman, wearing a large cream-colored hat, and a loose light-colored walking dress, with a parasol, stepped out of the train. The impression was deliberately old-fashioned, as if the times before the war had returned, there were a touch of theatricality in the woman's gestures. For a moment it seemed as if the woman were steeling herself, before she started walking purposefully towards Glen. The station master wiped his mustache and wondered who the woman could be, but that was none of his business, his working day was over.

Mary Vance Douglas and Irene Howard both happened to be in the doorway of Carter Flagg's general store when the cream-clad apparition walked by. Irene Howard glanced bitterly at the petite woman and said in her usual honeysweet, carrying way, "Nan Blythe thinks too much of herself, there's too much second rate talent here, that's for sure. People have been married before with less fuss, but perhaps it is the Blythe in her."

Mary Vance Douglas glanced at the cream-colored figure. She had stopped, and then she strangely turned in exactly the right direction, she had consulted a small notebook. Her light heels kicked up reddish dust from the road into the hot, even sweltering air.

Mary Vance Douglas glanced sideways at Irene Howard as she said in a disgruntled voice, "Irene, dearest Irene, as you know I hate to agree with you, but in this case I may agree with you."

Irene's sweet laugh was ringing, and extremely cynical, as she remarked, " Well, if so, it will indeed be historic, perhaps not a breakthrough like the Treaty of Versailles, but close."

Di Blythe rubbed her cold hands at the crossroads leading to the Four Winds road. And finally, a familiar figure appeared. Di almost ran to Winnie. Winnie smiled and said lightly, slightly cuttingly, but sensitively "The Glen is a bucolic paradise that Wordsworth forgot to write down."

Di, said sincerely, "I assumed you would have been here before, I believe Dorian offered you a ride here at no extra cost." Winnie brushed the fallen seed from the collar of her dress as she said gravely, "I couldn't, I want to be independent, you know that."

Glen's summer radiated around them and Di, looking at Winnie, noticed how reserved and foreign she seemed, in her formal and elegant attire under the bright hot sun. And then Winnie's eyes warmed, like limpd chocolate, as she murmured, "Dearheart, it's so nice to see you again, is there really a Wyatt piano around here somewhere, because if there is, can I try it?"

Di laughed.

Winnie smiled fondly as she replied, "I told you I'd make exceptions for you."

Curious, Di inquired, "I've never understood what you really mean by that. Now do you want to open it up a bit."

Winnie stopped and swept her parasol over the wildflowers growing on the ditch's edge, as she murmured, "Di, I've left this place once, an idyllic village, even though the village isn't the same, attitudes are."

Di, noticing how Winnie's cream-gloved fingers were trembling, as she said sincerely in a whisper, "Nobody knows anything, you are, we're safe."

The wind whispered in the willow branches, as Winnie forced a smile on her lips and said, "Di, the Wyatt, please?"


Shirley Blythe retreated behind a willow tree as he watched how his older sister passionately embraced an unknown woman dressed in cream, whose face and features were hidden by a large, extravagant hat, slowly they walked forward towards Glen. Shirley dropped to his elbows and thought for a time. Finally certain things made sense.

Ripe strawberries smelled intoxicating around him, and conveniently, practically, he made a birch cup out of the bark, which he filled with strawberries. And at the edge of the shady fishpond, Carl waited, scanning for bugs, as was his usual habit.

Shirley remarked, "Carl, if you don't want the strawberries, I'll take them to Susan."

Carl raised his head lightly, and grabbed one strawberry. The light flickered in his golden hair.

Shirley leaned against the thick birch and watched with pleasure as Carl concentrated on his bugs. The fish catch was completely secondary to him, because Carl, his friendship was the most precious thing. The dragonflies flew past them on almost silent wings and Carl broke the silence and said with his usual sharp vision, "Shirl, you're thinking about planes, and flying, like whenever you see dragonflies, aren't you?"

Shirley smiled with his Blythe smile that rarely came as he said, "Carl, we will soon be close to what you wrote in your letter, a quiet moment possibly together under the tree at the wedding, but before that I realized I might need to talk to one of my sisters."

Carl's laugh was like a setting sun, rich and hearty, as he said, "Shirl, Nan can hardly thank you for that. I can swear on my Fathers Bible that Jerry loves Nan, has always done so."

Shirley just smiled in his infuriating sphinx style as he remarked, "Carl, we're both going to have to stand in church tomorrow morning, under Glen's eyes, the fish will wait but Nan or Jerry will not if we happen to be late tomorrow, as we both are taking part in those festivities of highest order.


The Glen's choir sang, brightly, purely movingly, Give Me Joy In My Heart, Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, and as a climax, Love Divine All Loves Excelling, before the Reverend Meredith blessed his firstborn and Nan Blythe, who stood motionless beside the dark-clad Jerry. Nan was a revelation, if a bit touched with rose blush, in hand-stitched lace and cream white veiled in a simple yet resplendent wedding resplendence, her veil was held in place by a beautiful amethyst brooch.

Among the wedding guests, Olive Howard heard how Irene Howard sniffed, as she muttered in a low voice, "Surprisingly modest, for a Blythe, but on the other hand, dearest Rilla has always been the most fashion-conscious of the sisters."

Olive Howard glanced at her husband, who, seeing Olive's gaze, caressed her hand reassuringly, and thanks to that slight encouragement, she managed to ignore her husband's unmarried sister's observations.

In that romantic moment when Nan and Jerry swore their immortal vows, Anne glanced at Gilbert, nostalgically. It seemed as if all the married couples remembered their frevent wovs.

The church fell silent..

The reception after the service was held, not in Rainbow Valley, as Nan had hoped, or near the Methodist Cemetery, as Laidies Aid had put thier collective foot down, but in front of the Glen's town hall decorated with flowers.

The Wyatt piano had been moved outside, under the vines. Irene Howard inquired in an audible voice, "Why is that most lovely piano being brought into the sweltering humidity, I'm just asking?"

Mary Vance glanced with attentive eyes noted the three guests sitting behind the Blythes, one of whom got up and quietly walked away.

There were solemn speeches, the level of which varied.

Jem Blythe made almost everyone cry with his heartfelt speech.

Bit earlier had Di Blythe played something too modern to suit Glen, though Mary Vance Douglas as she noticed that the crowd of out-of-towners who had attended the wedding seemed to be enjoying themselves, and were smiling willingly as the fast, frenetic tunes, like ragtime, throbbed through the square.

And then there was silence.

Di glanced at the audience, that she had known since birth, as she was sitting in her place next to Rilla, almost in front. She noticed, in a fleeting way, Cornelia Elliott's disapproving and Irene Howard's superior expression. And then she knew, with an almost tremulous sensitivity, that Winnie had entered. The wind brought a hint of Winnie's perfume, but the biggest clue was in the audience, as they had stilled, almost frozen.

Norman Douglas wiped his beard quietly, as a slim, lush woman dressed in a cream afternoon dress, almost a girl, walked on stage. Norman Douglas found himself noticing that the red-haired girl had something, too, too much, for these modest circumstances. She just stood there, motionless, and that motionlessness in itself was provocative, almost a sensual promise, in itself, mildly irritated, Norman noticed that Ellen touched his ribs warningly, as Norman, in his own opinion, glanced respectfully at the girl standing a few rows away.

The red-haired girl shook her bountiful curls, as she smiled at the serious-looking wedding guests, with a hint of impishness, as she said sincerely, in a husky tone of voice that was sweetly, calculatingly earnest. " Our beloved Anne, Nan Blythe asked me here to sing a song when she and her lovely Jerry took their vows, so of course I honor Nan Meredith's humble wish. So, if you have a dear one, touch a hand, that's all I ask."

Di Blythe didn't dare look in Winnie's direction as her voice rose bright, warmly sensually limpid, convincingly, heartbreaking, in that ballad, of If You Were the Only Boy, which had been Nan's choice.

Di, felt shivers in her back, and in her whole body as she remembered how the two of them had just less than a day before sat in honey-yellow peace in Glen's concert hall. Winnie had looked up from the notes and said gently but mercilessly, "Dearest, I'm here to work, so everything else will be left out now, but still Winnie's look had been like a caress she dare not give.

Di had laughed as she had said, "Winifred, you can't be afraid of this wedding." Winnie's expression had been calm, forced, as she had remarked, "I have experienced a different type of village life than you dearest, lets drop the subject."

Di did shook her hair impatiently, as Winnie enchanted her twin's wedding audience, as she did everyone as she let the music breathe, for a few moments, before Winnie plunged extremely softly, caressingly even, and created different meanings for each member of the audience, that particular touch of intimacy, which was almost too disarming, at times, especially when combined with her orchid's sensitive and openly promising presence. Her sense of stillness and openness were dangerous, almost but not quite, as they were only half respectable with a twist. But when the song went on, Di noticed with relief that this time Winnie was less sultry than usual, more earnest and heartfelt.

Standing next to Jerry, Carl could barely keep a serious face as the song, a moving ballad that sparkled instead of the usual and accepted anthem, was one of which there were at least ten inappropriate and dirty, even smutty versions to be had, as almost everyone had sung them for the past four years at the frontlines. And taking a closer look at the lush soloist, Carl had a feeling that she knew exactly what kind of knife edge she was standing on, as she deliberately enchanted the audience.

Carl glanced at Jem and Jerry and Miller and Shirley and found that they were all struggling to keep their poker faces, for of course Nan had no way of knowing what this love song had turned into on the front.


Afterwards the wedding guests were scattered around the Manse garden, which housed the joint effort of both the Manse and Igelside kitchens under the canopy, Shirley avoided the Glen girls who wanted to dance. He found himself standing near Di. A large fir tree cast a cooling shadow over them. And raising his glass of lemonade, Shirley remarked in his dry style, "Congratulations Di."

Hearing Shirley's voice, Di turned sharply, as she tried to look at her brother in genuine surprise. But there was a kindly guarded twinkle in Shirley's dark brown eyes as he remarked, "I don't know what you agreed on getting your special friend here to appear, at Nan's wedding, no least, but you've always been efficient. She seems lovely, though Glen seems perhaps too rustic a place for her, Paris would suit, better I think." Di´s laughter were silvery as she remarked, " Oh, Shirley how do you run on. Paris would be lovely place to visit some day, that is for certain." Shirley leaned down to embrace his sister and whispered, to her ear, "I'm sorry it took me so long to put certain things order. Tell me are honestly, are you happy?"

Shirley felt Di take a long breath and nodded barely perceptibly, as a sliver of a tension that had been embedded in her shoulders slowly went away, for a moment or two, as she carefully guarded way glanced towards were Winnie was talking with Dorian Gardner eagerly, as she whispered to Shirley, " Possibilities are suddenly so limitless that they're almost scary."

With a delicate touch of bridal blush blooming in her cheeks Nan sat down next to Jerry as the violins, slightly out of tune, began to play an atmospheric melody. Winnie stepped into the verdant grass, but unlike at the wedding reception, now she was wearing an extremely elegant slip of a dress in a soft coral shade.

Amused, Nan noticed that Irene Howard seemed to be in the grips of a civilized high dungeon as Winnie smiled at them and said with soft sincerity, "There's another one here who wants to perform for you, in honor of your blessed union, so I'll give the space to her."

Nan hid her smile as Jerry whispered hoarsely in disbelief, "It can't be Una, it just can't. She hates public appearances."

Accompanied by soft applause, Di, stepped in front of the Wyatt piano in a loose dove gray dress. Nan felt her twin's warm, loving smile as Di said, "One can't be here today, so I've built this for him for you, Nan."

Among the guests, Dorian Gardner held his breath, as Di Blythe played extremely skilfully, pulsating, emotional music that they had been thinking about for moths, because this music, had been found half-finished in Walter's literary legacy, one from the last pages of the notebook, in messy notes.

With a side eye, Dorian noticed that Captain Ken Ford, dark and handsome, first danced for a long time with his lovely looking betrothed, as her greenish hems fluttered, before somewhat unexpectedly offering his hand to Alice Parker, whose pale lilac skirts rustled quietly as they danced a melancholy waltz at a formal distance.

Dorian glanced around, and he saw a slender, dark-haired, virginal figure dressed in dark blue, whose downcast face seemed fascinating, for it held a suppressed sadness, as Walter's music glowed, Dorian noticed the slender shoulders straightening a little, and a glow came into the dark blue eyes. Suddenly, nothing around seemed real, as he heard Walter's warm serious voice say, in his memories, "There is no Micaëla, but there is a tea rose, in the Glen."

Una looked up wearily as a polite voice that didn't sound like a local inquired, "Miss, may I sit here for a few moments, I'm Dorian Gardiner, a wedding guest."

Dorian felt like a complete fool standing in front of the unknown girl as she looked at him quietly but not judging or calculating like every other person Dorian had met in his entire life. Una, held out her hand and said seriously with a small smile forming on her pale lips, "Well met, I'm Una Meredith."

And feeling the squeeze of that graceful but strong hand on his, Dorian felt a sudden, remarkable peace in his heart. The night breeze brought the intoxicating scent of roses and softly Dorian inquired, "Miss Meredith, tell me all about yourself."

For a moment, Una felt helpless, for in some strange way this well-dressed youth resembled Walter, but looking shyly into the light green, dark-lashed eyes, Una felt the difference. For Dorian Gardner, she, Una Meredith was fully present, unlike late beloved Walter, who had been somewhere out of reach even during their so fleeting moments together. So Una smiled, and that smile was a new kind, no longer the old wistful one, as she said gently, "There is not much to tell, I have been studying Household Science in Redmond for the past year, Kingsport is a charming city, so colorful."

Dorian's smile widened as he softly remarked, "Well what a coincidence, I live in Kingsport myself, maybe we can meet there when September comes, at a place of your choosing of course, Miss Meredith."

Una, glancing up half shyly, saw Dorian Gardner's pale, kind, and patient face, with a slightly spoiled whimsy, and she drew a deep breath as she murmured, "It might be pleasant, but I can promise nothing, Mr. Gardner."


Taking a deep breath and fighting back a blush, Nan Meredith glanced at Jerry, who chuckled a little helplessly as he said, "Well, it was worth coming all the way to Lowbridge for the wedding night, at least we can be sure no neighbors are listening outside the window."

Nan straightened her back and said invitingly, "Jerry, come here."

Jerry, gently wrapped his arms around Nan's slim, soft body.

The narrow iron bed creaked.

Bathed in moonlight, the room was modest, but elegant, with fresh flowers and fragrant sheets on the bed, and water scented with herbs in a bowl.

Jerry planted a semi-shy kiss on Nan's lips.

Nan's hazel eyes flashed as she took a small jar of jam from the small shelf.

Surprised, Jerry glanced at the jam jar, as Nan whispered, "Dearest, I've had time in these years of our separation to learn all kinds of things, and soon, I think you'll know what I mean."

Out of breath, Jerry wiped his face, as Nan snuggled against him, as she murmured, "I was right, wasn't I?"

Jerry lightly licked the cherry jam off his wife's collarbone as he said in a deeply satisfied voice, "Oh, indeed. If I knew who to thank I'd send flowers, unless you read this in some book my dear?"


Rainbow Valley was calm, one afternoon few days after the wedding. The wind jingled the fae bells lightly, as Jem Blythe, Faith Meredith, Una Meredith, Carl Meredith, Jerry Meredith, Nan Meredith, Shirley Blythe, Rilla Blythe, Ken Ford, Di Blythe, Sue Ridley, and golden stylish Persis Ford sat on various blankets and looked around at the most idyllic and homely scene in front of them all.

Dorian Gardner's eyes were dark with emotion as he was carefully leaning on his silvertopped walking sticks, on the uneven ground, as he quietly and slowly came forward. He remarked in a whisper, "What a place to play in, you all truly were blessed."

Rilla leaned over to Ken and whispered softly, pityingly in his ear, "Why didn't you help sweet Dorian to overcome this terrain. I never thought before that the terrain of Rainbow Valley is not suitable for everyone."

Ken looked up from the quivering leaves, of Walter´s birch but before Ken could answer Carl said quietly, "Because, even if Ken had, it's likely that Dorian Gardner would have refused." Rilla felt a little thrill in her heart as Ken murmured with his lips barely touching her earlobe. " Carl had it right, Rilla my Rilla."

In no time at all conveniently, Faith and Di were soon frying trout, as fragrant tea steamed in porcelain cups. There were old tales and merrymaking once again.

Alice Parker leaned against a pale-trunked birch as she hummed something low and sweet-sounding.

Di glanced at Alice in passing and inquired, "What were you thinking of doing next?"

Alice, took a worn envelope from her pocket, and said quietly, "I thought I'd go to Papa, he's somewhere in Czechoslovakia, with my brothers too, I recived a word from Ken Ford about them. Apparently they were serving under him for a time. There's a lot to do, and I feel I'm probably of more use there than here. Don't worry, I'll write, as others too have requested letters. "

Di stretched and as she did so lightly felt Alice's hand caress her hair, that caress was almost absentminded, as Di, said quietly, "Fine, as long as you're happy, even somehow."

Alice's faint smile was like a slow ray of sunshine, as she murmured, "Isn't that too much to ask these days." And looking impishly at Dorian, who was conversing eagerly with Una Meredith, Alice, gave in to her wistful happiness that had been her custom in those days when dreamy Walter, and their friendship had filled her heart, as she whispered, "Di, I think he's around us and rejoices in this, isn't he. "

Di nodded, in solemn way.

Nan glanced in Sue's direction and whispered to her gently, "The good thing about being a wedding guest is that they make a man think about getting married sooner rather than later, don't worry." Sue glanced over at the shady lawn where Dorian was conversing with apparent intensity with Jerry Meredith's sister, Una, and just as quietly she murmured, "Oh, if I could be sure of your words. We'd be so well-suited, but I don't think he thinks the same." Nan smiled softly and said, "Anything is possible, even love."

The sparkling late summer sun gilded the stream and the light summer wind filled that little sheltered valley where once the children had played and the moving current of time had turned the children into adults. They all had their own secrets, ambitions, loves, but still the magic circle of that place kept them together still.

And that day was June 28, 1919, and all over the world there was a sigh of relief when the Great War was concluded at the negotiating table, in the hall of mirrors of Versailles, as the terms were announced all over the world, through the press, they would come into effect on January 20, 1920.

The bright laughter of young people that had fought a war, could be heard from Rainbow Valley, as there were still laughter and love to be found in the world. There was a blissfull sense of hope in the air. Naturally League of Nations, driven so energetically by Woodrow Wilson, would prevent future conflicts. The skyline of Prince Edward Island was cloudless and idyllic, but the scars of the war had not been forgotten, it never would be.