Anne of Ingleside - L. M. Montgomery [5]
‘I’m sure they didn’t.’
‘That’s what Fred said when I asked him. He said all he was scared of was that I’d change my mind at the last moment like Rose Spencer. But you can never really tell what a man may be thinking. Well, there’s no use worrying over it now. What a lovely time we’ve had this afternoon! We seem to have lived so many old happinesses over. I wish you didn’t have to go tomorrow, Anne.’
‘Can’t you come down to a visit to Ingleside sometime this summer, Diana?… before – well, before I’ll not be wanting visitors for a while.’
‘I’d love to. But it seems impossible to get away from home in the summer. There’s always so much to do.’
‘Rebecca Dew is coming at long last, of which I’m glad, and I’m afraid Aunt Mary Maria is, too. She hinted as much to Gilbert. He doesn’t want her any more than I do… but she is “a relation”, and so his latch-string must be always out for her.’
‘Perhaps I’ll get down in the winter. I’d love to see Ingleside again. You have a lovely home, Anne, and a lovely family.’
‘Ingleside is nice… and I do love it now. I once thought I would never love it. I hated it when we went there first… hated it for its very virtues. They were an insult to my dear House of Dreams. I remember saying piteously to Gilbert when we left it, “We’ve been so happy here. We’ll never be so happy anywhere else.” I revelled in a luxury of homesickness for a while. Then… I found little rootlets of affection for Ingleside beginning to sprout out. I fought against it, I really did, but at last I had to give in and admit I loved it. And I’ve loved it better every year since. It isn’t too old a house… too old houses are sad. And it isn’t too young… too young houses are crude. It’s just mellow. I love every room in it. Everyone has some fault, but also some virtue – something that distinguishes it from all the others, gives it a personality. I love all those magnificent trees on the lawn. I don’t know who planted them, but every time I go upstairs I stop on the landing… you know that quaint window on the landing with the broad, deep seat… and sit there looking out for a moment and say, “God bless the man who planted those trees, whoever he was.” We’ve really too many trees about the house, but we wouldn’t give up one.’
‘That’s just like Fred. He worships that big willow south of the house. It spoils the view from the parlour windows, as I’ve told him again and again, but he only says, “Would you cut a lovely thing like that down even if it does shut out the view?” So the willow stays, and it is lovely. That’s why we’ve called our place Lone Willow Farm. I love the name Ingleside. It’s such a nice, homey name.’
‘That’s what Gilbert said. We had quite a time deciding on a name. We tried out several, but they didn’t seem to belong. But when we thought of Ingleside we knew it was the right one. I’m glad we have a nice big roomy house… we need it with our family. The children love it, too, small as they are.’
‘They’re such darlings.’ Diana slyly cut herself another ‘sliver’ of the chocolate cake. ‘I think my own are pretty nice, but there’s really something about yours… and your twins! That I do envy you. I’ve always wanted twins.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t get away from twins, they’re my destiny. But I’m disappointed mine don’t look alike, not one bit alike. Nan’s pretty, though, with her brown hair and eyes and her lovely complexion. Di is her father’s favourite,