Annes House of Dreams | Page 9

and magazine editors had not been as
unappreciative as they are sometimes supposed to be. Anne read Paul's
poems with real delight. They were full of charm and promise.
"You'll be famous yet, Paul. I always dreamed of having one famous
pupil. He was to be a college president--but a great poet would be even
better. Some day I'll be able to boast that I whipped the distinguished
Paul Irving. But then I never did whip you, did I, Paul? What an
opportunity lost! I think I kept you in at recess, however."
"You may be famous yourself, Teacher. I've seen a good deal of your
work these last three years."
"No. I know what I can do. I can write pretty, fanciful little sketches
that children love and editors send welcome cheques for. But I can do
nothing big. My only chance for earthly immortality is a corner in your
Memoirs."
Charlotta the Fourth had discarded the blue bows but her freckles were
not noticeably less.

"I never did think I'd come down to marrying a Yankee, Miss Shirley,
ma'am," she said. "But you never know what's before you, and it isn't
his fault. He was born that way."
"You're a Yankee yourself, Charlotta, since you've married one."
"Miss Shirley, ma'am, I'm NOT! And I wouldn't be if I was to marry a
dozen Yankees! Tom's kind of nice. And besides, I thought I'd better
not be too hard to please, for I mightn't get another chance. Tom don't
drink and he don't growl because he has to work between meals, and
when all's said and done I'm satisfied, Miss Shirley, ma'am."
"Does he call you Leonora?" asked Anne.
"Goodness, no, Miss Shirley, ma'am. I wouldn't know who he meant if
he did. Of course, when we got married he had to say, `I take thee,
Leonora,' and I declare to you, Miss Shirley, ma'am, I've had the most
dreadful feeling ever since that it wasn't me he was talking to and I
haven't been rightly married at all. And so you're going to be married
yourself, Miss Shirley, ma'am? I always thought I'd like to marry a
doctor. It would be so handy when the children had measles and croup.
Tom is only a bricklayer, but he's real good- tempered. When I said to
him, says I, `Tom, can I go to Miss Shirley's wedding? I mean to go
anyhow, but I'd like to have your consent,' he just says, `Suit yourself,
Charlotta, and you'll suit me.' That's a real pleasant kind of husband to
have, Miss Shirley, ma'am."
Philippa and her Reverend Jo arrived at Green Gables the day before
the wedding. Anne and Phil had a rapturous meeting which presently
simmered down to a cosy, confidential chat over all that had been and
was about to be.
"Queen Anne, you're as queenly as ever. I've got fearfully thin since the
babies came. I'm not half so good-looking; but I think Jo likes it.
There's not such a contrast between us, you see. And oh, it's perfectly
magnificent that you're going to marry Gilbert. Roy Gardner wouldn't
have done at all, at all. I can see that now, though I was horribly
disappointed at the time. You know, Anne, you did treat Roy very

badly."
"He has recovered, I understand," smiled Anne.
"Oh, yes. He is married and his wife is a sweet little thing and they're
perfectly happy. Everything works together for good. Jo and the Bible
say that, and they are pretty good authorities."
"Are Alec and Alonzo married yet?"
"Alec is, but Alonzo isn't. How those dear old days at Patty's Place
come back when I'm talking to you, Anne! What fun we had!"
"Have you been to Patty's Place lately?"
"Oh, yes, I go often. Miss Patty and Miss Maria still sit by the fireplace
and knit. And that reminds me--we've brought you a wedding gift from
them, Anne. Guess what it is."
"I never could. How did they know I was going to be married?"
"Oh, I told them. I was there last week. And they were so interested.
Two days ago Miss Patty wrote me a note asking me to call; and then
she asked if I would take her gift to you. What would you wish most
from Patty's Place, Anne?"
"You can't mean that Miss Patty has sent me her china dogs?"
"Go up head. They're in my trunk this very moment. And I've a letter
for you. Wait a moment and I'll get it."
"Dear Miss Shirley," Miss Patty had written, "Maria and I were very
much interested in hearing of your approaching nuptials. We send you
our best wishes. Maria and I have never married, but we have no
objection to other people doing so. We are sending you