Hetty had been included in the dinner invitation, but had declined with the excuse that she had “important work to attend to.” Hetty certainly wouldn’t want to hear anything more about Felix’s appointment, as she’d railed against Sara as they left the hospital.
“The very idea of imposing on Arthur Pettibone’s time. He’s a very busy young man.”
“Aunt Hetty,” Sara responded in an even tone. “If Arthur had felt we were imposing, I’m certain he would have said so.”
“But to go and make an appointment for him without consulting Alec and Janet…or me, for that matter. I hate to say it, but it seems to me the entire clan has had a sudden attack of foolhardiness and you can rest assured I won’t be joining ya.”
“You will come with us to Charlottetown, though? Aunt Hetty, Felix will need you there for support.”
“Why on earth do ya want to bring him here, of all places? Certainly Dr. Snow is quite capable of treating whatever is wrong with the boy.”
Sara’s eyes flashed. “Dr. Snow is a fine doctor, but what Felix needs is a specialist…someone who is familiar with these matters.”
“What matters?”
Sighing, Sara replied. “War trauma.”
“War trauma? That’s absurd. There’s nothing wrong with Felix that he couldn’t get over himself if he had a mind to…and the person to treat him certainly isn’t Arthur Pettibone. The boy’s never worn a uniform in his life.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s incapable of--”
“Ah! There’s our cab.” The cabman came around and opened the car door for Hetty and Sara.
“But he’s helping those soldiers in there,” Sara said, pointing to the hospital. “I saw it myself. And besides,” Sara began, taking a deep breath as she always did before she defied her aunt. “This isn’t your decision to make.”
“No, it certainly is not, Sara Stanley. Nor is it yours.”
“At least I want to do something to help Felix instead of just letting him sit--”
“Sara,” Hetty almost shouted. “I’ve heard enough, child. Hold you tongue.” Rather ungently, Hetty gave Sara a significant nudge into the cab. Sara sat and folded her arms across her chest, unwilling to say anything her aunt would find sassy in front of the cab driver. “Charlottetown station, driver, and hurry, please.”
* * *
“Sara, I’ve made your favourite trifle,” Janet said as she and Cecily passed out dessert plates that evening. “I found a jar of raspberry preserves from last year. The very last one.”
“Mmm,” Sara said, taking a helping of raspberry trifle. “Thank you, Aunt Janet.”
“Would you care for some, Miss Giroux?” Janet asked.
Felicity had brought Sophie over for dinner that evening, and she sat at Hetty’s usual place.
“Yes, thank you, Mrs. King. You’ve all been very kind to me. I appreciate it.”
“Well, we’re pleased to have you in Avonlea,” Janet said. “And I know what kind of a cook Elvira Biggins is. Goodness, you’ll be half-starved.” Titters were heard around the table.
“You must imagine my surprise, Dr. Giroux,” Felicity said. “I wrote to Miss Sullivan asking for advice. I was hoping for at least a letter from her. I never expected advice to come in the form of a person. I must say I am flattered. Whatever made her take such an interest in me?”
“I read your letter, Felicity. You seemed so earnest and I felt you had a passion for teaching the deaf. I was very eager to come when Miss Sullivan wrote to me and told me of your desire to open a school.”
“I am just so surprised that someone of Miss Sullivan’s fame would take an interest in little old Avonlea,” Janet said, spooning out the trifle. “After all, she’s quite a celebrity.”
Sophie smiled. “She has slowed down a bit in recent years, owing to her health. She contacted the school and they sent me to you. I assure you, Miss Sullivan is always eager to help out those in the teaching profession.”
“Well, we’re pleased to have you,” Janet said. “Is the school in Boston taking care of your fee as well?”
“Fee?” Felicity asked, surprised.
“Well, Felicity, dear, you can’t expect Miss Giroux to offer her services for free.”
Felicity looked discomfited. “I--hadn’t. Miss Giroux, I apologise, I hadn’t even thought about your fee. What exactly do you charge for your assistance?”
“I am salaried by the school, Mrs. Pike, you needn’t worry,” Miss Giroux said. “And I do have my own savings to spend on room and board.”
“Sophie, you are very welcome to stay with my husband and I,” Felicity said, eager to get the subject off money. “Indeed, it would probably more convenient if you did.”
“If you wouldn’t find me to be an imposition.”
“Nonsense,” Felicity said. “I could use the company. If I had known you were coming--you really must forgive me--I would have taken the time to find you moe suitable arrangements than Mrs. Biggins’.”
“Oh, you mustn’t apologize,” she said. “The boarding house is quite…comfortable.”
“If you don’t mind being suffocated by the wood stove,” Alec said dryly. Everyone at the table laughed. “Speaking of unexpected arrivals,” he began after they had quieted down, “Had a letter from Roger today.”
“Oh?” Janet said, her interest piqued. Roger had never been terribly reliable in the letter-writing department.
“It seems Andrew has suffered a bit of a relapse relating to his war wounds and, uh, they’re sending him to the Carmody hospital for a good bout of rest and treatment.”
“Oh? Will Roger and his wife be coming to Avonlea, then?” Janet asked, hesitantly, wondering if their hospitality would be imposed upon. Certainly, Roger was welcome in her home, but she had her hands full.
“They’ll be sending Andrew along first and then Roger will try to acquire some sort of accommodations after the term is over in June. I told him the Tomgallon house was up for sale. Seems they expect to make a lengthy stay of it.”
“What exactly is…wrong with Andrew?” Janet asked.
“Oh, it’s physical mostly. He’s having trouble walking around on his own. I suggested a good spell of therapy with Dr. Snow and he’d be right as rain in no time. Roger agreed.”
“I see,” Janet said, rather stiffly. “So, he’ll be all better again, will he?”
Alec eyed Janet closely before speaking. “Yes, yes. It seems he will. He’s anxious to get back to school and get that medical degree.”
“Good for him,” Janet said stiffly. “Miss Giroux, more potatoes?” She then turned to her younger daughter. “Oh, Cecily. There is a letter from the Pettibones to discuss your trip arrangements, dear. It’s on the hall table. Cecily is going to visit a dear friend of hers in Halifax.” Janet explained to Sophie. “Shall we have tea and dessert in the parlour?”
Everyone began to get up from the dinner table. “Cecily,” Janet said, “if you help me clear these dishes, you can go read your letter.”
“All right,” Cecily said.
“Oh, let me, Aunt Janet,” Sara said, getting up. “I’ll make the tea.” Certainly, Janet looked exhausted and Sara was not blind to the fact that she had some serious buttering-up to do.
“Well, I won’t say no to that offer, Sara. Let’s all adjourn to the parlour then. Felicity, would you show Miss Giroux the way?”
“Oh, please Mrs. King,“ Sophie said. “If you wouldn’t think me impertinent, would you allow me to help Miss Stanley with the tea? You’ve been so gracious already. I can’t bear the thought of you waiting on me.”
“Oh, don’t be silly, Miss Giroux,” Janet said. “You’re a guest.”
“I do so wish to help,” she said. “To tell you the truth, I can’t bear to be waited upon.”
“Well, Sara should have some interesting tales for you in that department,” Alec said. “Come Janet, it’s not so often you get an offer to relax.”
“Oh, well, if you girls don’t mind,” Janet began as Alec pulled her, reluctantly, from the room.
“Aunt Janet, please,” Sara urged. “Go sit down.”
Cecily excused herself and headed toward the hall table and picked up the letter. Upon opening it, she skimmed the letter from Mrs. Pettibone. She saw that there was another letter in the envelope, this one from Izzy.
Although the night was warm, once out of sight of her family, Cecily slipped on her coat and put Izzy’s letter inside it. She felt another piece of paper in the inside pocket. Opening the door as quietly as possible, she slipped out unnoticed.
* * *
Sara and Sophie were chattering loudly in the kitchen while they prepared tea. Sara’s laughter could be heard throughout the house, bringing a smile to Janet’s face as she sat down opposite Felicity in the parlour. It was then that Janet noticed her younger daughter missing.
“Well, where on earth did Cecily get to?”
“I think I saw her taking a letter outside,” Felicity said.
“A letter outsi--oh, well, these young girls are all so secretive, it’s silly of me to suppose anything different of Cecily.” Janet took up her knitting. “Oh, I can’t tell you how good it feels to finally be able to sit down and relax. I don’t like the idea of Sophie waiting on us, though.”
A loud crash came from the kitchen and Sara yelled, “Zut!” A large amount of giggling was heard from Sara and Sophie.
“Girls?!” Janet called.
There was more giggling. “We’re fine, Aunt Janet,” Sara called. She and Sophie continued to converse loudly, this time in French.
“They must be saying something they don’t want you to know about, Janet,” Alec said, philosophically blowing smoke out of his pipe.
“Alec King, I do wish you’d take that outside,” Eliza said, waving her hand in front of her face.
“It’s my house,” he said.
“Oh, Felix!” Janet said, remembering. “He hasn’t had his supper.”
“I’ll go check on him, Janet,” Alec said. “You relax, now.”
“Take your pipe with you,” Eliza said.
There was more giggling and loud chatter from the kitchen. “Girls?” Janet called again. “I suppose I’d better--”
“Mother, I’ll go,” Felicity said.
“I’ll go,” Eliza said authoritatively, and that was the end of that.
Janet and Felicity were left alone. Felicity sensed that her mother was bothered by something, but she hated to broach the subject. Felicity tried not to think about Felix and how much pain that must be causing her mother. Cecily, also, was going through her own set of growing pains. Felicity couldn’t imagine the kind of burden her mother must have been under. She very much wanted to make her feel better, to assure her that she needn’t worry about one of her children.
“Sophie and Sara seem to be getting on,” Felicity said, attempting to break the silence.
Janet sighed audibly. This comment of Felicity’s seemed to open a floodgate in her. “Why is it, Felicity, that you’ll accept help from a perfect stranger, but not from your own family?”
“Sophie isn’t a stranger, Mother. She’s a professional instructor of the deaf. Besides, this is a different kind of help. It’s to do with opening the school. She knows what kinds of books I’ll need; what kinds of instructional materials. She even told me about this bell system that uses electric light instead of sound.”
“Felicity, I hate to keep coming back to this issue, but who’s to pay for all of this? You said your application for a loan has been refused.”
“Well, that was just the Avonlea bank. Perhaps there’s one in Halifax or Charlottetown or even Carmody.”
“The situation will be the same, dear. You don’t have anything to offer as collateral.”
“So what should I do? Just give up?”
“No one is suggesting that, Felicity, dear. But, maybe what you’re proposing is too ambitious for right now. Why not just keep the house you’ve got and start smaller? There’s no shame in that.”
“I’ll find a way to manage, Mother, you needn’t worry.”
“The benefit is such a good idea,” Janet insisted. “You can’t stop us from trying to raise money.”
Just then, Janet looked up and saw Sara entering, with Sophie and Eliza right behind.
“Tea is served,” Sara said. “Where did everybody go? I hope the idea of me making tea didn’t scare everyone off.” Janet informed her of everyone’s various whereabouts as she served.
Alec came downstairs a few moments later, as everyone was settling in. He caught Janet’s eye and shook his head. Sara, taking note of this, could guess what that look was about. Her resolve to talk to them about Felix strengthened.
* * *
Cecily saw a light burning in the parlour of Rose Cottage, which meant her aunt was still up. As she came closer, she saw through the window that Hetty was bent over her writing desk, not appearing to be lonely in the slightest. Cecily knew Hetty had gone through several spells of not speaking to the rest of the family and she supposed her aunt had enough strength to get through it.
That’s what I need, Cecily thought. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and waited. No one came. She didn’t hear her aunt’s voice call to come in. Her heart started racing and she raised a shaking arm to knock again. Still, there was no answer. Well, I could just go home, she told herself. She turned around and then righted herself. “No, I’m going in,” she said out loud. Turning the knob, she slowly opened the door and stepped into Rose Cottage. She saw Hetty seated at her writing desk, her knot of dark hair almost coming loose.
Hetty hadn’t heard the knock on the door, nor had she heard it open. She was absorbed in thought, waiting for the right word she needed to pop into her mind.
“Aunt Hetty?”
Hetty, startled by her niece, looked up with a jolt and put a hand over her heart. “Oh! Cecily! Do you want to send me into an apoplectic fit, child?”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Hetty. Are you busy at all?”
“Gracious, no, child.” Hetty began shuffling her papers into a folder. “I’m just marking some of these essays,” she lied.
“Aunt Hetty, I’ve come to ask a favour of you.”
“Indeed?”
Cecily began. “Aunt Hetty, I’ve been thinking about my future lately.”
“It’s high time you did so, child. You know, agriculture may become very different by the time you inherit the farm.”
Cecily decided not to mention that her plans went beyond learning about agriculture. “So, you agree that it would be important to me to explore every possible avenue?”
“Well, of course I do. One must be prepared for the changes that are sure to come after we win this war.”
“So, if I wanted to attend university, you would support that decision? Even if you disagreed with my parents?”
“Oh, absolutely, child. An education, you know, is priceless. I’ve always had high hopes of all of you children attending university. Young women today have so many more opportunities than they did when I was your age and that is a trend that is sure to continue. I know exactly how stubborn your parents can be. As soon as your mother calms down from her nonsense, I could speak to her for ya. Would ya like me to do that?”
“No!” Cecily exclaimed. “I mean…Well, they’ve already sort of agreed.” That’s not entirely untrue, Cecily told herself. Father does agree with me. “And…besides. I’d like it to be sort of a…a surprise when…if I get accepted.”
“I see,” Hetty said. “And I understand perfectly, child.” She patted her hand.
Cecily smiled broadly. “Aunt Hetty, you’re the only person I can turn to. The Dalhousie University entrance examination is to be held in August. Now, I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and I’ve gone through some of Felicity’s old schoolbooks. What I was wondering was…well…would you help me study for the examination? I’ll do anything you ask in return. I’ll-”
Hetty cut her off. “Heavens, child. You don’t have to repay me. I’d be pleased to help you out.” Hetty patted her hand. “Dalhousie. My, my,” she said excitedly.
“Thank you, Aunt Hetty.”
“I’m sure you’ll do well. Oh, you were a bright student, Cecily. Not as bright as your sister Felicity, of course.”
“Of course,” she repeated, trying to hide her sarcasm.
“But a bright student altogether. We must start as soon as possible for we only have a little over two months, ya know. I think…yes…I happen to have some old examinations that I helped your Uncle Roger with when he was applying. You come by after we return from Dora's graduation from KLC, Cecily, and we will start preparing you.”
* * *
“I don’t understand where on earth that Cecily has got to,” Janet said, as they were finishing up their tea. She looked fretfully out the window.
“She’ll turn up, Janet,” Alec said, smoking his pipe again, under Eliza’s disapproving looks. “Girl that age likes to have a little freedom,” he said pointedly.
“She has plenty of freedom,” Janet said. “Goodness, you’ll have Miss Giroux thinking we keep our children prisoners. I just feel terrible that she’s run off when we have a guest. Miss Giroux, I hope you don’t think we’re terrible.”
Sophie laughed. “Not at all, Miss King. I remember perfectly well what it was like to be nineteen. I am not at all offended. Oh, goodness,” she exclaimed, checking her watch. “It is late. I should be getting back to the village. I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“Not at all,” Felicity said. “We’re very glad to have you.”
Alec offered to drive Sophie and Felicity back to the village and they assented. As they were getting on their coats and saying their goodbyes, Sara began clearing away tea.
“Sara, you need to stop waiting on us, dear,” Janet said.
“I don’t mind a whit, Aunt Janet,” she said and headed to the kitchen.
Felicity and Sophie said their final goodbyes of the evenings and Alec shuffled them out the door.
Sara dallied about the kitchen for a good long while, waiting for Alec to return. She was surprised by how good she felt after giving a particularly stubborn pot a good scrubbing. It was actually quite cathartic.
Alec came home soon after and headed into the parlour, not noticing Sara. Once Sara heard Eliza heading off to bed, she slowly walked from the kitchen into the parlour.
“Got Felicity and Sophie all settled in?” Janet asked.
“Is Cecily back yet?” Alec asked.
“No,” Janet said, sounding strained. “I thought perhaps she’d walked back to the village and was at Felicity’s.” There was pause during which, as Sara took from her aunt’s next comment, Alec must have indicated a negative. “I’ve a mind to go out and look for her. She shouldn’t be out at night like this, Alec. It’s not good for her. The very idea that she wants to go run off to Halifax and go to college. A young girl like her, I thought she’d have more sense. Running off like that, when we have a guest, and she wants us to give her permission for school.”
“There’s something to be said for getting out in the world.”
“Well, Felix wanted to get out in the world and look where it got him,” Sara imagined that she could hear the thread on Janet’s needle snap in anger. “Cecily’s better off staying in Avonlea where she belongs. And what’s Felicity to do there at that house all by herself? Cecily has proven that she is far too young to be out on her own. She oughtn’t to be out on her own at all, if you want to know the truth of it. If she has to leave home, I’d rather that she be settled somewhere with someone to look after her.”
Sara thought twice about approaching them. Janet was already in a tizzy about Cecily, and she thought perhaps she should wait until her aunt was in a better mood before she broached the subject of Felix with her. She would have to give up for tonight and go home.
Sara walked toward the parlour. In the lamplight, she saw the strain on her aunt and uncle’s faces. They’d always been so good to her, comforted her when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Their care-worn faces tugged at her heart. She wasn’t quite sure, but she thought she almost saw tears in her aunt’s eyes, eyes that were bent over holes in someone’s stockings. If only they would listen, if only she could do something to make them feel better, to lessen their burden. She closed her eyes, squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and entered the parlour.
“Oh, Sara,” Janet said in surprise, seeing her, “I thought you’d gone home.”
“No,” Sara replied. “I need to talk to you and Uncle Alec. It’s about Felix.”
“What--what about him?” Janet asked in a strained voice.
“I think he should see a doctor--”
“Oh, Sara!” Janet flung down her work in frustration. “We’ve already discussed this, Alec and I. We’ve talked about--about sending him away from Avonlea, even. It’s just no good, Sara. Felix will just have to--to get better on his own.”
“What if he doesn’t?” Sara asked. “What if he stays like that forever?”
“I’m not sending Felix away to an--an institution. I know what those places are like,” Janet replied. “Even the nice ones. I’ll not have Felix…locked up like some animal.”
“No, not sending him away, just having him seen. I don’t see how you can object to that.”
“Janet, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt,” Alec put in. “It would give us a better idea of what Felix’s needs are.”
“Just let a doctor see him, that’s all I ask,” Sara insisted.
“And is a fancy doctor like that to be had in Avonlea?” Janet asked somewhat sarcastically.
“There’s one in Charlottetown,” Sara replied. “And he’s willing to take on Felix as a patient.”
* * *
It was late by the time Sara returned to Rose Cottage. She’d stayed to explain about what Arthur was doing at the Charlottetown Hospital. They agreed that, instead of staying in Avonlea while the family went to Halifax to visit the Pettibones for Dora’s graduation from KLC, Felix and Janet would accompany the family. Felix, of course, would not be forced to visit the Pettibones. On that note, Sara was quite in agreement with Janet.
Then, donning a pair of Felix’s old trousers, she headed out to the barn to help Alec, and later Cecily, who returned at last, with wild eyes and wind-blown cheeks, with the last chores of the day.
“Where did you run off to?” Sara, holding a shovel full of manure, asked Cecily when the girl ran breathlessly into the barn.
“Nowhere,” Cecily replied, her cheeks flushed from the running and excitement.
“All right, Miss Nowhere,” Sara said. “Prince needs his last feeding. Hop to it.”
“Right away,” Cecily replied, almost skipping over to the feed bag.
Tired and aching, Sara climbed the stairs that led to her room. All the lights were off and Hetty had long since gone to bed. Too tired to change into her nightdress, Sara lay on the bed and was soon asleep.
* * *
“Aha!” Louisa said. “Here is the station house.”
Louisa plopped Sara down on a nearby bench. They waited. Soon, a young boy in flowing, cream-coloured robes approached them. He carried clear, cylindrical glasses full of some dark liquid. Sara had been watching. He stopped several times to offer these glasses to the people who milled about. Louisa shielded Sara from his approach.
“Tea?” he asked, his white teeth glinting as he smiled.
“Tea,” Sara repeated. “Oh, Nanny, I’m ever so thirsty. Please might I have some?”
“No,” Nanny said. “We’ll have tea at your father’s. No,” she told the boy. “No, thank you.”
“But the others are drinking it,” Sara insisted. She pointed to a finely-dressed Englishwoman at one of the market stalls. She and a British officer held glasses of tea.
“Is very good,” the boy insisted.
“Oh, all right, Sara, but if we come down with the dysentery, I’ll be the one answering to your father. How much?” she asked the boy.
The tea was sweet and soothing, the best Sara had ever had in her life. “Might we find that boy and get more?” the girl asked.
Louisa, however, was unconcerned about more tea. She was checking the watch she wore on her white blouse which was, however, no longer white, but beige with dust.
“Has Papa forgotten us?” she asked.
“No, dear Sara. Your father would never forget you. I imagine he is delayed somewhat.”
So, they waited. Sara sat on the bench and for an hour, watched the constant passage of people, carriages and motor-cars. She slowly and lovingly twisted the golden unicorn around her neck through her fingers. That was her mama’s. She always wore it. She felt like she was taking her mama with her wherever she went when she wore it. Perhaps it was magic, the little girl often wondered. Perhaps the unicorn on it was magic, like real unicorns.
* * *
By the soft light of the lamp in her room, Cecily read Izzy’s letter eagerly. She read how Izzy and Muriel had been in attendance at the Halifax Spring Benefit Social, which this year benefited the war effort. Although her friend did not come right out and say it, Izzy, clad in a flowing, peach-coloured chiffon dress trimmed with foamy white lace, with her long hair flowing in soft curls around her, had been one of the belles of the dance.
I had ever so many dances, more than I’d ever had in my life. I don’t mean to sound like a braggart, but my card was full, Cecily, positively full! There were lots of soldiers there--oh! the fun you missed! I promise to procure a dance for you when you arrive. There were even soloists during the breaks in the dances and speeches. You’ll never guess who one of the soloists was! That lovely singer you told me Mrs. Dale knows, Sylvia Gray. She was in town doing a tour and she stopped in Halifax. She was marvellous. She sings just like an angel. Oh, what a cliché. My composition professor would have a fit if he saw that one.Now I come to the exciting part. Part of the reason my dance card was so full was because I had to give many of them to one particular young man. His name is Dermot R.S. McClanahan. I don’t know what the “R.S.” stands for (Morgan says it’s “rich snob,” but what do boys know?). In any case, Mr. McClanahan has an officer’s commission in the Army and will be shipping out to Europe at the end of the month. Father says he’s a fine young man and he approves of Mr. McClanahan coming to call.
Cecily stared at the letter for a very long time, reading Izzy’s words about Dermot over and over. I guess that’s the end of that, she thought rather sadly. There was no way to reach Felix, no way to tell him that Izzy, whom he once loved, was slipping away.
* * *
“Alec, I can’t believe you honestly think that Arthur Pettibone can cure Felix.”
“It’s worth a shot, Janet,” Alec returned, testily. It was past midnight. Alec and Janet were both up, unable to sleep. Janet was noisily making tea, slamming the teapot onto the stove. “He wouldn’t eat tonight, Janet. Just laid in his bed and didn’t even acknowledge me when he came in.” He paused. “He can’t go on like this, Janet.”
Janet bent over the stove and clutched her stomach, as if in pain. “I know,” she sobbed. “What if we take Felix to him and whatever he does, doesn’t work. What then? What if he says to us, ‘Sorry, I can’t help him?’ What if he tells us that Felix is too far gone?”
“He can’t be,” Alec said going to her. “For our sake, for Felix’s sake, we have to believe that he can get well. Whatever’s wrong with him, it’s…it’s…there’s got to be a cure. All of this so new. It’s a different kind of medicine. It’s…got to work. Felix has to get well.”
* * *
The next morning was warm with sunlight. Sara, up early, composed a letter to Arthur Pettibone in care of the Charlottetown Hospital. She wasn’t sure if he would be in Halifax for the commencement ceremonies at KLC or not, and if he was, she doubted she would have a chance to talk to him privately, so she spent several lines detailing Alec and Janet’s concerns for their son.
I truly believe that Felix wants to get well. It isn’t like him to remove himself from the family like this. Uncle Alec and Aunt Janet only want what is best for him, so they may be reluctant to try anything that is new or different, fearing that it won’t work.
Sara blinked back tears before she began the next paragraph.
Of course, much of this probably stems from the loss of our dear Elbert. I don’t know if you ever knew Elbert; Izzy did. He was Felix’s closest friend, aside from--well, I shan’t say anything about that, shall I?You know I don’t mean to pry, Arthur, but if your sister were to by chance see Felix… If she were to…But I’ve overstepped my bounds here, haven’t I, chum? Please don’t let my silly mouth make you change your mind about helping Felix.
To return to my original purpose for writing: Aunt Janet and Uncle Alec have agreed for Felix to be seen by you, at the Charlottetown Hospital, on our way back from Halifax. Please let me know if you will be at the hospital then.
We also discussed the possibility of you perhaps making a house call? We know it is a lot to ask of you in regard to your time, but we are not entirely convinced that we can get Felix to go to the hospital. If you would come and see Felix here and tell us what you think, I should be forever grateful to you, Arthur.
Cordially,
Sara Stanley
Rose Cottage
Avonlea, PEI
* * *
“I am staying here,” Janet announced. She was in the kitchen. Cecily was fluttering about and Alec was carrying luggage downstairs. Daniel was trying to stay out of everyone’s way.
“What?” Alec said from behind a suitcase.
“I am staying here,” she repeated. “I’ll not set foot in the same hotel as that woman.”
“By ‘that woman,’ I take you to mean my sister?”
“I do. Daniel, get that filthy dog out of here.” Daniel was pulling on a bit of rope, the other end of which was in Silly’s mouth.
“Come on, Daniel,” Cecily said, sensing her parents needed to talk to each other alone. She took her brother and the dog outside.
“Janet,” Alec began in an exasperated tone. “I know you and Hetty have been having trouble over this Daniel business.”
“It’s not just Daniel,” Janet said. “Even when Felix was missing, she…” Seeing his wife overcome by emotion, Alec put down the suitcase and wrapped a comforting arm around his wife’s shoulder.
“Now, I know Hetty can be abrasive.”
“Oh, abrasive isn’t even the word for it, Alec. I know she was ill; I forgave her. But she never apologised, Alec. Not once did she say she was sorry for the things she said to me, while I waited and worried and prayed every day that Felix wasn’t…Well, I have no overwhelming desire to see Clive Pettibone--and who is going to stay here with Aunt Eliza?”
“I thought you said she was going to Abigail’s; that it had all been arranged.”
“Well, it’s not right for me to pawn Eliza off on Abigail whenever we go off somewhere she doesn’t want to go.”
“Janet, you should come to Halifax. The change-up’ll do you good.”
“Alec, I really don’t think I can be around Hetty. Dora’s a very lovely girl and I’m glad to see her graduate from a school like KLC, but I’d much rather stay here and look after Felix, instead of dragging him from pillar to post. He didn’t eat for three days after he came back from Halifax with Felicity. He doesn’t want to go, Alec, and we shouldn’t force him. I’m needed here. I want to stay here.”
“But you said…”
“We can take him to Charlottetown some other time.”
“Janet, if he doesn’t go now, he never will.”
“Well, if the mountain will not go to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain. That’s my final word on the subject, Alec,” Janet said firmly, brushing past him. “Go call Cecily in. I need her darning before she sets off. She also has to help me shell the peas. She didn’t do that earlier, after I asked her six times, so it’s time for her to knuckle down and do her work.” Alec looked at his wife for a very long time, who was, by this time, furiously scrubbing the stove.
“Mother, Felicity has come!” Cecily yelled a moment later, bringing in with her Daniel, Silly and a gust from the windy day.
“Cecily, shut the door!” Janet called.
“Yes’m,” said the excited, windblown Cecily. “And I saw Sara walking up the lane.”
Felicity walked in a moment later, on the arm of Davey Keith.
“Felicity, are you entirely well, dear?” Janet asked, getting a chair for her daughter.
“Oh, just fatigued is all. I can’t wait to see Gus.”
“Cecily, get your sister a cup of tea.” Cecily obediently put the kettle on to boil.
“Felicity, you are looking rather pale. Are you sure you don’t want to have Dr. Snow?”
“Mother, I told you. I saw him last week and he says everything is fine. This is completely normal.”
Janet shut her mouth and set to kneading bread. She was silent for a while, and then brought up something that had been weighing on her mind. “Felicity, I really don’t think you ought to traipse off to Halifax again.”
“Mother, I want to bring Gus home,” Felicity replied.
“Well, your father can bring him home,” Janet protested, kneading the dough with all of her might.
“But, I wrote to Mrs. Cadbury at the Hopetown Asylum in Halifax. She contacted me about some students there who are in need of instruction. I’ve decided to meet with her. I talked it over with Sophie and she said that it would be a good idea to meet the students to assess their need and level of skill. Sophie’s going to meet with Mr. Simpkin on Tuesday. She thinks she can negotiate with him in regard to the sale of the Lloyd place.” Felicity paused, letting her words soak into her mother’s brain. “Sophie thinks I should go ahead with my original plan.” Janet was silent. Felicity, sensing that her mother would not be responding to the news, began again awkwardly. “Cecily, do you need help shelling those?” she asked, sitting down.
“Yes, please,” Cecily said in an agonized voice, testily tossing some peas into her bowl. Felicity laughed. She assumed their mother was secretly punishing Cecily for some recent transgression. It was widely known in the family that shelling peas was Cecily’s least favourite thing to do.
The door opened again, bringing in a fresh gust of air. Silly ran pell-mell to greet Sara, who walked in, carrying a basket full of multi-hued jars.
“Hello,” she called. Finding everyone in the kitchen, she entered that room, smiling broadly. She hadn’t worn a hat at all, and the wind had blown the formerly neat little knot at the nape of her neck into a swirl of golden tangles. “Drat,” she said, taking her hair down. Felicity and Cecily looked amazed: certainly this was far more informal behavior than they’d ever seen out of the normally prim Sara. “I suppose I look a fright,” she said apologetically.
Leaving her hair--shockingly, thought Felicity--loose, she addressed Janet. “I’ve taken the liberty of packing up the basket of preserves Aunt Hetty promised Miss Stacey.” Sara hadn’t ever been able to get out of the habit of calling Muriel Pettibone “Miss Stacey.” “I wanted to know if we’d be able to get some of that quince jam of yours, Aunt Janet. Miss Stacey’s partial to it, and I couldn’t convince Aunt Hetty to come over and ask for it.”
“Of course you may have some, Sara,” Janet said. “And take a jar for yourself, if you like.” Janet knew that that jar would probably be shared with Hetty, but she didn’t want to deny Sara a treat on account of her feuding with Hetty. Sara, instinctively knowing on what shelf of the pantry the quince jam was kept, propped herself up on the little stepladder and took down the preserves.
“So that’s two jars of Aunt Hetty’s watermelon pickle for Mr. Pettibone--” Sara counted.
“Izzy says she can’t ever get that right,” Cecily said. “Doesn’t seem there’d be much to it, don’t you think? After all, it’s just dumping junk in a pot and waiting for it to boil.”
“There’s a secret to it, Miss Cecily,” Sara teased. “One which you and I shall never be privy to. Oh, and Aunt Janet, may I have some of your maple syrup? Aunt Hetty says Miss Stacey says the syrup in Halifax is very inferior to what you get on the Island. Too much salt.”
“Of course, dear,” Janet said, pounding the dough. She was very happy to see Sara excited about going, but she didn’t want to hear Hetty’s name mentioned one more time.
Sara twisted the top half of her hair into a braid and tied it in place. “Are you all packed, Cecily?” Cecily nodded. “I can’t wait to hear about all the mischief you and Izzy will be getting up to.”
“With Clive Pettibone in the house, I doubt there’ll be much of a chance for mischief,” Janetsaid.
“Mother, did you read over that letter Mrs. Pettibone sent?” Cecily said, wanting to be as nice to her mother as possible before setting off. The Kings were accompanying her to Halifax in order to attend Dora’s graduation, and Cecily lived in fear that they would change their minds about her visiting Izzy. “Did you read about the parties we’re going to?”
“I counted so many balls and benefits, I think I lost track. And I see Arthur has graciously offered to chaperone you home from Charlottetown after your visit.” Janet looked pointedly at Sara, the two of them silently understanding each other about what Arthur coming to Avonlea might mean. For Janet, it was a mixture of dread and hope.
Cecily, on the other hand, groaned.
“Arthur is a perfectly nice boy,” Janet said.
“Mother, you can’t exactly look forward to travelling with someone who tousles your head and calls you ‘kiddo.’” Sara snickered loudly. “You laugh, Sara. Wait till he does it to you.”
* * *
The day of the Kings’ family trip to Halifax dawned gray and overcast. Sara awoke to the sounds of thunder in the distance, a bit calmer now, knowing that it was only thunder and not something more sinister.
As she dressed by the warm fireplace, the wind began to pick up and to beat against the window panes. The sun, clouded by dark clouds, cast a spooky light on everything outside.
Soon, she was taking her luggage downstairs and eating a hot bowl of oatmeal, with no Aunt Hetty in sight.
As the clock in the parlour of Rose Cottage ticked toward seven-thirty and no Aunt Hetty appeared, Sara made up her mind that she must disturb her aunt’s sleep.
Sara, buttoning up her woolen red coat, called to Hetty that they needed to get moving. Rachel had already gone ahead to Halifax to help Dora put the finishing touches on her graduation gowns.
Hetty emerged from the upstairs, admonishing Sara that she needn’t shout to raise the dead.
“Aunt Hetty, Uncle Alec is expecting to leave at quarter to eight! Where have you been?”
“In my room, Sara Stanley, getting a good bit of reading done.”
“I just thought perhaps you weren’t up yet.”
“Not up?” Hetty seemed to take this as a personal affront. “It’s nearly eight o’clock, Sara Stanley. I never sleep past six. Sleeping past eight in the morning is a sign of sloth and lethargy, a habit which I will not be getting into, I assure ya.”
Sara smiled. She remembered how when she had first come to Avonlea, how she had thought nothing of sleeping until ten or eleven in the morning.
Hetty headed toward the parlour, where she sat down. “Why don’t ya tell Alec to send along for me on his way into Avonlea?”
“Aunt Hetty, you can’t be serious!”
“I am serious, Sara Stanley. I’ve got papers to grade still and far be it from me to shirk my duty because of a pleasurable excursion.”
“Aunt Hetty, I can’t imagine the fourth form is that anxious to get back their essays on Alexander Selkirk.”
“Perhaps that may have been the case with you, Sara, and the brood at King Farm, but I assure ya that my students are quite serious and, ah, very studious.”
Sara wasn’t fooled. “Aunt Hetty, you’re going to have to face Aunt Janet sooner or later.”
“Oh, what do I care what Janet King thinks? If my school isn’t good enough for her, well, then, she can teach that rapscallion of a son of hers at home and then she might know what I go through. Alec can pick me up just as easily as I can walk over there, more so, I suspect.”
Sara knew it was useless to attempt to argue or cajole Hetty into walking over to King Farm with her. She knew that Janet pulling Daniel out of school was going to stick in Hetty‘s craw for a long, long time to come. “All right, I’ll tell him.” Without saying goodbye, Sara flung open the door of Rose Cottage and greeted the dreary Island day.
* * *
Once inside the warm kitchen of King Farm, a somewhat flustered Janet King told her to have a muffin and a warm cup of tea, which Sara did.
Cecily came down the kitchen stairs, practically bounding down the last few steps. “Oh, Sara!” she exclaimed. “Oh, I’m wild with delight! I barely slept last night.”
“She barely ate, too,” Janet said critically, although she smiled.
Sara munched her muffin and drank her tea next to the kitchen fire, alongside Cecily, whom Janet persuaded to take a mug of tea and a muffin as well. “Where’s Uncle Alec?” Sara asked.
“Out securing the back pasture,” she said. “It looks like a storm. Bert Potts promised to come in and look after the farm if it needs it,” Janet said.
Sara thought Bert Potts knew as much about farming as she did. Janet seemed to read her expression and then added, “Gourney MacDonald said he’d look in on us, too.” Gourney MacDonald was a bit gossipy, but Sara knew he could handle a farm. “Davey Keith was helping this morning, but I’ve sent him along to town to pick up Felicity.”
After they had finished their muffins, Janet told the girls to go into the parlour and relax until it was time to leave.
Once out of the kitchen, Sara pulled Cecily aside. “Don’t tell anyone,” she said, and slipped her cousin two twenty dollar bills. Cecily squealed and Sara, quick on the uptake, reached up and put a stifling hand over her cousin’s mouth. Cecily’s muffled squeals continued a few moments longer.
When she was assured that Cecily was no longer in danger of shrieking to high heaven, Sara removed her hand from her cousin’s mouth, and Cecily collapsed in a fit of giggles. “Oh, Sara, you can’t give me this much money,” she whispered, handing it back. “Five dollars is all Mother and Father would give me for extras. Other than that, I had to take out of my savings. If they know you tried to give me--” Cecily gulped at the prospect--”forty dollars! They’d make me give it back, I know they would.” Cecily shoved the money back at her cousin.
“No, I want you to take it. Look at how many balls you’re going to. You’ll run through a pair of slippers every night for a fortnight, and then there’s your five dollars gone.”
“Well, I did bring five pair…” Cecily began to protest.
“And what if you and Izzy want to have tea at one of the finer establishments in Halifax?”
“Oh, Izzy would never let me pay,” Cecily said.
“Then that’s all the more money for you, then, isn’t it, chum?”
“Sara, I can’t.”
“Take it!” Sara insisted, almost violently.
“Why?” Cecily asked, for she had no idea why Sara was being so generous.
“Because, you’re a very good girl who deserves to have splendid holiday with her bestest chum, that is why. Aunt Hetty said you’ve been moping around all winter. Go out. Have fun. Spend money. Buy yourself something lavish and expensive.” Sara held out the money, Pied Piper-like. “You know, there’s a shop in Halifax that sells Paris fashions…”
Cecily eyed the money, seriously tempted. “Sara, I can’t spend forty dollars all in one place.”
“I’m telling you to spend thirty,” Sara said. “The entrance exam fee is ten dollars.”
Cecily gasped. “Oh, Sara. Oh, Sara, how did you know?”
Sara couldn’t hide her smile. “Uncle Alec told me, and I think it’s splendid. Think of it,” Sara said, taking her hands. “You, a college girl!” The girls giggled together.
“Cecily!” Janet called. “It’s getting late, dear, you ought to get in the buggy! You’ll miss the train.”
Sara, with another pleading glance on her face, held out the money. “Oh, Sara,” Cecily said, hugging her cousin. “I’ll buy you something in Halifax, I swear.”
“Don’t you dare,” Sara said.
“Girls!” Janet called.
“We’re going!”
Since it was a bit windy and threatened rain, Sara and Cecily bundled up for a rainy Island day. Janet had gotten out extra scarves and mittens just in case the girls needed more warmth for their trip over to Halifax. Sara put on an especially long scarf, a hand-knitten woolen red one, which she knew to have been Felix’s. Bundling up in it, she felt a sense of comfort, remembering those days when she and Felix would play outside for hours and hours.
Outside, Felicity had arrived, brought by a squeaky-clean and suited Davey Keith. “Well, don’t you clean up nicely, Davey?” Sara asked. Davey managed a sheepish grin.
“It ain’t much,” Davey said. Sara smiled. She knew it was one of the finest suits to be had through a mail-order company and that Davey hadn’t had to purchase it for the sole purpose of his sister’s graduation. There was also the matter of him being sixteen in June, and furthermore the matter of Becky Lester being of an age to receive callers.
“Looks overcast,” Alec said, mounting the buggy and tying the luggage down. “It’s going to be a rainy ride to Nova Scotia.”
“Yes, doesn’t it look awful?” Janet called from the porch. “You’d better button up Daniel if you’re taking him to the station to say goodbye,” she reminded her husband. “I don’t want him catching cold out in this wind.”
“You needn’t worry, Janet,” Alec said.
“Alec King, you’re all going to be blown from pillar to post,” called Eliza, next to Janet on the porch.
“We’ll be fine, Eliza!” Alec called back.
Sara and Felicity waited for Alec to have the luggage all set up in the buggy. “Sara,” Felicity said, turning to her cousin. “I’m going to meet with the matron of the Hopetown Asylum while I’m there.” Sara’s face lit up. “I was wondering if you would accompany me there. Gus is working that day and I’d rather not go alone.”
“Of course I’ll go, Felicity.”
“You’ve been such a support through all of this, Sara,” Felicity said. “You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
Soon, they were on their way. They were waving goodbye to Janet and Eliza, who stood on the porch. They arrived at the train station with plenty of time to spare. The luggage was loaded, and soon they were settled, warm and snug, in the dining car, having a second breakfast of Eggs Benedict and tea, and chatting about the excitements that awaited them in Halifax.
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