Anne of Ingleside - L. M. Montgomery [43]
‘Alden, I want to ask a favour of you,’ said Anne winningly. ‘Will you do it for me?’
‘Sure, Mrs Blythe,’ he answered heartily. ‘Just name it. You know I’d do anything for you.’
Alden was really very fond of Mrs Blythe and would really have done a good deal for her.
‘I’m afraid it will bore you,’ said Anne anxiously. ‘But it’s just this… I want you to see that Stella Chase has a good time at my party tomorrow night. I’m so afraid she won’t. She doesn’t know many young people around here yet… most of them are younger than she is… at least the boys are. Ask her to dance and see that she isn’t left alone and out of things. She’s so shy with strangers. I do want her to have a good time.’
‘Oh, I’ll do my best,’ said Alden readily.
‘But you mustn’t fall in love with her, you know,’ warned Anne, laughing carefully.
‘Have a heart, Mrs Blythe. Why not?’
‘Well,’ confidentially, ‘I think Mr Paxton of Low-bridge has taken quite a fancy to her.’
‘That conceited young coxcomb,’ exploded Alden, with unexpected warmth.
Anne looked mild rebuke.
‘Why, Alden, I’m told he is a very nice young man. It’s only that kind of a man who would have any chance with Stella’s father, you know.’
‘That so?’ said Alden, relapsing into his indifference.
‘Yes… and I don’t know if even he would. I understand Mr Chase thinks there is nobody good enough for Stella. I’m afraid a plain farmer wouldn’t have a look in. So I don’t want to make trouble for yourself falling in love with a girl you could never get. I’m just dropping a friendly warning. I’m sure your mother would think as I do.’
‘Oh, thanks… thanks. What sort of a girl is she, anyhow? Looks good?’
‘Well, I admit she isn’t a beauty. I like Stella very much… but she’s a little pale and retiring. Not overly strong… but I’m told Mr Paxton has money of his own. To my thinking it should be an ideal match and I don’t want anyone to spoil it.’
‘Why didn’t you invite Mr Paxton to your spree and tell him to give your Stella a good time?’ demanded Alden rather truculently.
‘You know a minister wouldn’t come to a dance, Alden. Now, don’t be cranky… and do see that Stella has a nice time.’
‘Oh, I’ll see that she has a rip-roaring time. Good night, Mrs Blythe.’
Alden swung off abruptly. Left alone, Anne laughed.
‘Now, if I know anything of human nature that boy will sail right in to show the world he can get Stella if he wants her, in spite of anybody. He rose right to my bait about the minister. Now I suppose I’m in for a bad night with this headache.’
She had a bad night, complicated by what Susan called ‘a crick in the neck’, and felt about as brilliant as grey flannel in the morning: but in the evening she was a gay and gallant hostess. The party was a success. Everybody seemed to have a good time. Stella certainly had. Alden saw to that almost too zealously for good form, Anne thought. It was going a bit strong for a first meeting that Alden should whisk Stella off to a dim corner of the veranda after supper and keep her there for an hour. But on the whole Anne was satisfied when she thought things over the next morning. To be sure, the dining-room carpet had been practically ruined by two spilled saucerfuls of ice-cream and a plateful of cake being ground into it; Gilbert’s grandmother’s Bristol glass candlesticks had been smashed to smithereens; somebody had upset a pitcherful of rain-water in the spare room which had soaked down and discoloured the library ceiling in a tragic fashion; the tassels were half torn off the chesterfield; Susan’s big Boston fern, the pride of her heart, had apparently been sat upon by some large and heavy person. But on the credit side of the ledger was the fact that, unless all signs failed, Alden had fallen for Stella. Anne thought the balance was in her favour.
Local gossip within the next few weeks confirmed this view. It became increasingly evident that Alden was hooked. But what about Stella? Anne did not think Stella was