25 Anne Of Avonlea Read By Stephanie Poppins

Hello.

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.

Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.

But before we begin,

Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

That's it.

Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Anne of Avonlea This is the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series.

I am delighted to present to you Anne as she has now grown up into an elegant teenager.

Come with me as we hear all the trials and tribulations as she continues on her journey to womanhood.

Chapter 25 An Avonlea Scandal One blithe June morning,

A fortnight after Uncle Abe's storm,

Anne came slowly through the Green Gables yard from the garden,

Carrying in her hands two blighted stalks of white narcissus.

Look,

Marilla,

She said sorrowfully,

Holding up the flowers before the eyes of a grim lady,

With her hair coiffed in green ginum apron,

Who was going into the house with a plucked chicken.

These are the only buds the storm spared and even they're imperfect.

I'm so sorry,

I wanted some for Matthew's grave.

He was always so fond of June lilies.

I kind of miss them myself,

Admitted Marilla,

Though it doesn't seem right to lament over them when so many worse things have happened,

All the crops destroyed as well as the fruit.

But people have sown their oats over again,

Said Anne comfortingly,

And Mr Harrison says he thinks if we have a good summer they'll come out all right,

Although late.

And my annuals are all coming up again,

But nothing can replace the June lilies.

Poor little Hester Gray will have none either.

I went all the way back to her garden last night,

But there wasn't one.

I'm sure she'll miss them.

I don't think it's right for you to say such things,

Anne,

I really don't,

Said Marilla severely.

Hester Gray's been dead for 30 years and her spirit is in heaven.

I hope.

Yes,

But I believe she loves and remembers her garden here still,

Said Anne.

I'm sure no matter how long I'd lived in heaven,

I'd like to look down and see somebody putting flowers on my grave.

If I had a garden like Hester Gray's,

It would take me more than 30 years even in heaven to forget being homesick for it.

Well,

Don't let the twins hear you talking like that,

Was Marilla's feeble protest as she carried her chicken into the house.

Anne pinned her necissite on her hair and went to the lane gate where she stood for a while,

Sunning herself in the June brightness before going in to attend to her Saturday morning duties.

The world was growing lovely again.

Old Mother Nature was doing her best to remove the traces of the storm and though she was not to succeed fully from any amoon,

She was really accomplishing wonders.

I wish I could just be idle all day today,

Anne told a bluebird who was singing and swinging on a willow bough.

But a schoolmarm who's also helping to bring up twins can't indulge in laziness,

Birdie.

How sweet you are singing,

Little bird.

You're just putting the feelings of my heart into song ever so much better than I could myself.

Why,

Who's that coming?

An express wagon was jolting up the lane with two people on the front seat and a big trunk behind.

When it drew near,

Anne recognised the driver as the son of the station agent at Bright River,

But his companion was a stranger,

A scrap of a woman who sprang nimbly down at the gate almost before the horse came to a standstill.

She was a very pretty little person,

Evidently nearer 50 than 40,

But with rosy cheeks,

Sparkling black eyes and shining black hair,

Surmounted by a wonderful beflowered and beplumed bonnet.

In spite of having driven eight miles over a dusty road,

She was as neat as if she'd just stepped out of the proverbial bad box.

Is this where Mr James A Harrison lives?

She inquired briskly.

No,

Mr Harrison lives over there,

Said Anne,

Quite lost in astonishment.

Well,

I did think this place seemed too tidy,

Much too tidy for James A to be living here unless he's greatly changed since I knew him,

Chirped the little lady.

Is it true James A is going to be married to some woman living in this settlement?

Oh no,

No,

Cried Anne,

Flushing so guiltily that the stranger looked curiously at her as if she half expected her of matrimonial designs on Mr Harrison.

But I saw it in an island paper,

Persisted the fair unknown.

A friend sent a marked copy to me,

And friends are always so ready to do such things,

Aren't they?

Oh,

That note was only meant as a joke,

Gasped Anne.

Mr Harrison's no intention of marrying anybody,

I assure you he hasn't.

I'm very glad to hear it,

Said the rosy lady,

Climbing nimbly back to her seat in the wagon,

Because he happens to be married already.

I am his wife.

Oh,

You may well look surprised.

I suppose he's been masquerading as a bachelor and breaking hearts right and left.

Well,

Well,

James A.

She nodded vigorously over the fields at the long white house.

Your fun is over.

I'm here,

Though I wouldn't have bothered coming if I hadn't known you were up to some mischief.

I suppose,

She turned to Anne,

That parrot of his is as profane as ever.

This parrot is dead,

I think,

Gasped poor Anne,

Who couldn't have felt sure of her own name at that precise moment.

Dead?

Oh,

Everything will be all right then,

Cried the rosy lady jubilantly.

I can manage,

James A.

,

If that bird's out of the way.

And with this cryptic utterance,

She went joyfully on her way,

And Anne flew to the kitchen door to meet Marilla.

Anne,

Who was that woman?

Marilla,

Said Anne solemnly,

But with dancing eyes.

Do I look as if I were crazy?

Not more so than usual,

Said Marilla,

With no thought of being sarcastic.

Well then,

Do you think I'm awake?

Anne,

What nonsense has got into you?

Who was that woman,

I say?

Marilla,

If I'm not crazy and not asleep,

She can't be such stuff as dreams are made of,

She must be real.

Anyway,

I'm sure I couldn't have imagined such a bonnet.

She says she's Mr.

Harrison's wife,

Marilla.

Marilla stared in her turn.

His wife?

Anne Shirley?

Then what has he been passing himself off as an unmarried man for?

I don't suppose he did,

Really,

Said Anne,

Trying to be just.

He never said he wasn't married.

People simply took it for granted.

Oh,

Marilla,

What will Mrs.

Lynde say?

They found out what Mrs.

Lynde had to say when she came up that evening.

Mrs.

Lynde was not surprised.

Mrs.

Lynde had always expected something of the sort.

Mrs.

Lynde had always known there was something about Mr.

Harrison.

To think of his deserting his wife,

She said indignantly.

It's like something you read of in the States,

But who would expect such a thing to happen right here in Avonlea?

But we don't know he deserted her,

Protested Anne,

Determined to believe her friend innocent until he was proved guilty.

We don't know the rights of it all.

Well,

We soon will.

I'm going straight over there,

Said Mrs.

Lynde,

Who had never learned there was such a word as delicacy in the dictionary.

I'm not supposed to know anything about her arrival,

And Mr.

Harrison was to bring some medicine for Thomas Wilkomedy today,

So that will be a good excuse.

I'll find out the whole story and come in and tell you on the way back.

Mrs.

Lynde rushed in where Anne had feared to tread.

Nothing would have induced the latter to go over to the Harrison place,

But she had her natural and proper share of curiosity,

And she felt secretly glad that Mrs.

Lynde was going to solve the mystery.

She and Marilla waited expectantly for that good lady's return.

But they waited in vain.

Mrs.

Lynde did not revisit Green Gables that night.

Davy,

Driving home at nine o'clock from the Bolter place,

Explained why.

I met Mrs.

Lynde and some strange woman in the hollow,

He said,

And gracious how they were talking both at once.

Mrs.

Lynde said to tell you,

Sorry,

It was too late to call tonight,

And I'm awful hungry.

We had tea at Milty's at four,

And I think Mrs.

Bolter's a real mean.

She didn't give us any preserves or cake,

And even the bread was scarce.

Davy,

When you go visiting,

You must never criticize anything you're given to eat,

Said Anne solemnly.

It's very bad manners.

All right,

I'll only think it then,

Said Davy cheerfully.

Do give a fellow some supper,

Anne.

Anne looked at Marilla,

Who followed her into the pantry and shut the door cautiously.

You can give him some jam on his bread.

I know what tea at Levy Bolter's is apt to be.

Davy took his slice of bread and jam with a sigh.

It's a kind of disappointing world,

After all,

He remarked.

Milty has a cat that takes fits.

She took a regular fit every day for three weeks.

Milty says it's awful fun to watch.

I went down today on purpose to see her have one,

But the mean old thing wouldn't take a fit,

And he just kept as healthy as healthy.

Milty and me hung around all afternoon.

Never mind.

Davy brightened up as the insidious comfort of the plum jam stole into his soul.

Maybe I'll see him in one sometime yet.

It doesn't seem likely she'll stop having them all once when she's been so in the habit of it,

Does it?

This jam is awful nice.

Davy had no sorrows that plum jam could not cure.

Sunday proved so rainy there was no stirring abroad,

But by Monday everybody heard some version of the Harrison story.

The school buzzed with it.

Marilla,

Miss Harrison's got a new wife.

Well,

Not exactly new,

But they've stopped being married for quite a spell,

Milty says,

Said Davy,

Full of information.

I always suppose people had better keep on being married once they begun,

But Milty said no,

There's ways of stopping it if you can't agree.

Milty said one way is to start off and leave your wife,

And that's what Mr.

Harrison did.

Milty says Mr.

Harrison left his wife because she'd throw things at him,

Hard things,

And Artie Stone says it was because she wouldn't let him smoke.

Ned Clay says it was because she'd never let up scolding him.

I wouldn't leave my wife or anything like that.

I'll just put my foot down and say,

Mrs.

Davy,

You've just got to do what will please me as soon as I'm a man.

That'll settle her pretty quick,

I guess.

Well,

I'm going right over to Mr.

Harrison's this minute to see what she's like.

Davy soon returned,

Somewhat cast down.

Mrs.

Harrison was away.

She's gone to Carmody with Miss Rachel Lynn to get new paper for the parlour.

Mr.

Harrison said to tell Anne to go over and see him because he wants to have a talk with her,

And Mr.

Harrison shaved,

Though there wasn't any preaching yesterday,

And the floor was scrubbed.

The Harrison kitchen wore a very unfamiliar look when Anne approached.

The floor was indeed scrubbed to a wonderful pitch of purity,

And so was every article of furniture in the room.

The stove was polished until she could see her face in it.

The walls were whitewashed,

And the window panes sparkled in the sunlight.

By the table sat Mr.

Harrison in his working clothes,

Which on Friday had been noted for Sunday rents and tatters,

But which were now neatly patched and brushed.

He resprucely shaved,

And what little hair he had was carefully trimmed.

Sit down,

Anne,

Sit down,

Said Mr.

Harrison in a tone but two degrees removed from that which Avonlea people used at funerals.

Emily's gone over to Carmody with Rachel Lynn.

She's struck up a lifelong friendship already with her.

Beats all how contrary women are.

Well,

Anne,

My easy times are over,

All over.

It's neatness and tidiness for me for the rest of my natural life.

Mr.

Harrison did his best to speak dolefully,

But an irrepressible twinkle in his eye betrayed him.

Mr.

Harrison,

You're glad your wife's come back,

Cried Anne,

Shaking her finger.

You needn't pretend you're not,

Because I can see it plainly.

Mr.

Harrison relaxed into a sheepish smile.

Well,

Well,

I'm getting used to it,

He conceded.

I can't say I was sorry to see Emily.

A man really needs some protection in a community like this,

When he can't play a game of checkers with a neighbour without being accused of wanting to unmarry the neighbour's sister and putting it in the paper.

Nobody would have supposed you went to see Isabella Andrews if you hadn't pretended to be unmarried,

Said Anne severely.

I didn't pretend I was.

If anybody had asked me I'd have married,

I would have said yes.

But they just took it for granted.

I wasn't anxious to talk about the matter,

I was feeling too sore over it.

It would have been nuts for Mrs.

Rachel Lynn if she'd known my wife had left me,

Now wouldn't it?

But some people say you left her.

She started it,

Anne,

She started it.

Emily writ one day I'd have to choose between her and Ginger,

And she'd gone back to her own house,

And there she'd stay until I went and told her I'd got rid of the parrot.

I was all riled up,

Anne,

And said she might stay till doomsday if she waited for that,

And I stuck to it.

I packed up her belongings and sent them after her.

Ah,

There she is,

Mrs.

Lynn now.

Now don't go,

Anne,

Stay and get acquainted with Emily,

She took quite a notion to you Saturday.

Mrs.

Harrison welcomed Anne radiantly.

James has been telling me all about you and how kind you've been making cakes and things for him,

She said.

I want to get acquainted with all my new neighbours just as soon as possible.

Mrs.

Lynn's a lovely woman,

Isn't she?

So friendly.

When Anne went home in the sweet June dusk,

Mrs.

Harrison went with her across the fields where the fireflies were lighting their starry lamps.

I suppose,

She said confidently,

That James Ayes told you our story?

Yes.

Then I needn't tell it,

For James Ayes is just a man and he would tell the truth.

The blame was far from being on all his side.

I can see that now.

When Anne entered Green Gables,

Mrs.

Lynn was in the kitchen and had been telling Marilla the whole story.

And how do you like Mrs.

Harrison?

She asked Anne.

Very much.

I think she's a real nice little woman.

That's exactly what she is,

Said Mrs.

Rachel with emphasis.

And I've just been saying to Marilla,

I think we ought all to overlook Mr.

Harrison's peculiarities for her sake and try to make her feel at home here,

That's what.

Now,

I must get back.

Thomas will be wearing for me.

I get out a little since Liza came,

And he seems a lot better these past few days,

But I never like to be long away from him.

I hear Gilbert Bly's resigned from White Sands.

He'll be off to college in the fall,

I suppose.

Mrs.

Rachel looked sharply at Anne,

But Anne was bending over a sleepy Davy,

Nodding on the sofa,

And nothing was to be read in her face.

She carried Davy away,

Her oval girlish cheek pressed against his curly yellow head.

As they went up the stairs,

Davy flung a tired arm around her neck and gave her a warm hug and a sticky kiss.

You're awful nice,

Anne.

Miltie Bolter wrote on his slate today and showed it to Jenny Sloan's,

Roses red and violets blue,

Sugar sweet and so are you.

And that expresses my feelings for you exactly,

Anne.