Have you ever noticed, asked Anne reflectively, that when people say it is their duty to tell you a certain thing you may prepare for something disagreeable? Why is it that they never seem to think it a duty to tell you the pleasant things they hear about you? Mrs. H. B. Donnell called at the school again yesterday and told me she thought it her duty to inform me that Mrs. Harmon Andrew didnt approve of my reading fairy tales to the children, and that Mr. Rogerson thought Prillie wasnt coming on fast enough in arithmetic. If Prillie would spend less time making eyes at the boys over her slate she might do better. I feel quite sure that Jack Gillis works her class sums for her, though Ive never been able to catch him red-handed.
Have you succeeded in reconciling Mrs. Donnells hopeful son to his saintly name?
Yes, laughed Anne, but it was really a difficult task. At first, when I called him St. Clair he would not take the least notice until Id spoken two or three times; and then, when the other boys nudged him, he would look up with such an aggrieved air, as if Id called him John or Charlie and he couldnt be expected to know I meant him. So I kept him in after school one night and talked kindly to him. I told him his mother wished me to call him St. Clair and I couldnt go against her wishes. He saw it when it was all explained out hes really a very reasonable little fellow and he said I could call him St. Clair but that hed lick the stuffing out of any of the boys that tried it. Of course, I had to rebuke him again for using such shocking language. Since then I call him St. Clair and the boys call him Jake and all goes smoothly. He informs me that he means to be a carpenter, but Mrs. Donnell says I am to make a college professor out of him.
The mention of college gave a new direction to Gilberts thoughts, and they talked for a time of their plans and wishes gravely, earnestly, hopefully, as youth loves to talk, while the future is yet an untrodden path full of wonderful possibilities.
Gilbert had finally made up his mind that he was going to be a doctor.
Its a splendid profession, he said enthusiastically. A fellow has to fight something all through life didnt somebody once define man as a fighting animal? and I want to fight disease and pain and ignorance which are all members one of another. I want to do my share of honest, real work in the world, Anne add a little to the sum of human knowledge that all the good men have been accumulating since it began. The folks who lived before me have done so much for me that I want to show my gratitude by doing something for the folks who will live after me. It seems to me that is the only way a fellow can get square with his obligations to the race.
Id like to add some beauty to life, said Anne dreamily. I dont exactly want to make people know more though I know that is the noblest ambition but Id love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadnt been born.
I think youre fulfilling that ambition every day, said Gilbert admiringly.
And he was right. Anne was one of the children of light by birthright. After she had passed through a life with a smile or a word thrown across it like a gleam of sunshine the owner of that life saw it, for the time being at least, as hopeful and lovely and of good report.
Finally Gilbert rose regretfully.
Well, I must run up to MacPhersons. Moody Spurgeon came home from Queens today for Sunday and he was to bring me out a book Professor Boyd is lending me.
And I must get Marillas tea. She went to see Mrs. Keith this evening and she will soon be back.
Anne had tea ready when Marilla came home; the fire was crackling cheerily, a vase of frost-bleached ferns and ruby-red maple leaves adorned the table, and delectable odors of ham and toast pervaded the air. But Marilla sank into her chair with a deep sigh.
Are your eyes troubling you? Does your head ache? queried Anne anxiously.
No. Im only tired and worried. Its about Mary and those children Mary is worse she cant last much longer. And as for the twins, I dont know what is to become of them.
Hasnt their uncle been heard from?
Yes, Mary had a letter from him. Hes working in a lumber camp and shacking it, whatever that means. Anyway, he says he cant possibly take the children till the spring. He expects to be married then and will have a home to take them to; but he says she must get some of the neighbors to keep them for the winter. She says she cant bear to ask any of them. Mary never got on any too well with the East Grafton people and thats a fact. And the long and short of it is, Anne, that Im sure Mary wants me to take those children she didnt say so but she looked it.
Oh! Anne clasped her hands, all athrill with excitement. And of course you will, Marilla, wont you?
I havent made up my mind, said Marilla rather tartly. I dont rush into things in your headlong way, Anne. Third cousinship is a pretty slim claim. And it will be a fearful responsibility to have two children of six years to look after twins, at that.
Marilla had an idea that twins were just twice as bad as single children.
Twins are very interesting at least one pair of them, said Anne. Its only when there are two or three pairs that it gets monotonous. And I think it would be real nice for you to have something to amuse you when Im away in school.
I dont reckon thered be much amusement in it more worry and bother than anything else, I should say. It wouldnt be so risky if they were even as old as you were when I took you. I wouldnt mind Dora so much she seems good and quiet. But that Davy is a limb.
Anne was fond of children and her heart yearned over the Keith twins. The remembrance of her own neglected childhood was very vivid with her still. She knew that Marillas only vulnerable point was her stern devotion to what she believed to be her duty, and Anne skillfully marshalled her arguments along this line.
If Davy is naughty its all the more reason why he should have good training, isnt it, Marilla? If we dont take them we dont know who will, nor what kind of influences may surround them. Suppose Mrs. Keiths next door neighbors, the Sprotts, were to take them. Mrs. Lynde says Henry Sprott is the most profane man that ever lived and you cant believe a word his children say. Wouldnt it be dreadful to have the twins learn anything like that? Or suppose they went to the Wiggins. Mrs. Lynde says that Mr. Wiggins sells everything off the place that can be sold and brings his family up on skim milk. You wouldnt like your relations to be starved, even if they were only third cousins, would you? It seems to me, Marilla, that it is our duty to take them.
I suppose it is, assented Marilla gloomily. I daresay Ill tell Mary Ill take them. You neednt look so delighted, Anne. It will mean a good deal of extra work for you. I cant sew a stitch on account of my eyes, so youll have to see to the making and mending of their clothes. And you dont like sewing.
I hate it, said Anne calmly, but if you are willing to take those children from a sense of duty surely I can do their sewing from a sense of duty. It does people good to have to do things they dont like in moderation.
Chapter VIII
Marilla Adopts Twins
Mrs. Rachel Lynde was sitting at her kitchen window, knitting a quilt, just as she had been sitting one evening several years previously when Matthew Cuthbert had driven down over the hill with what Mrs. Rachel called his imported orphan. But that had been in springtime; and this was late autumn, and all the woods were leafless and the fields sere and brown. The sun was just setting with a great deal of purple and golden pomp behind the dark woods west of Avonlea when a buggy drawn by a comfortable brown nag came down the hill. Mrs. Rachel peered at it eagerly.