Anne's House of Dreams - L. M. Montgomery [92]
‘Mistress Blythe, the Liberals are in with a sweeping majority. After eighteen years of Tory mismanagement this down-trodden country is going to have a chance at last.’
‘I never heard you make such a bitter partisan speech before, Captain Jim. I didn’t think you had so much political venom in you,’ laughed Anne, who was not much excited over the tidings. Little Jem had said ‘Wow-ga’ that morning. What were principalities and powers, the rise and fall of dynasties, the overthrow of Grit or Tory, compared with that miraculous occurrence?
‘It’s been accumulating for a long while,’ said Captain Jim, with a deprecating smile. ‘I thought I was only a moderate Grit, but when the news came that we were in I found out how Gritty I really was.’
‘You know the doctor and I are Conservatives.’
‘Ah, well, it’s the only bad thing I know of either of you, Mistress Blythe. Cornelia is a Tory, too. I called in on my way from the Glen to tell her the news.’
‘Didn’t you know you took your life in your hands?’
‘Yes, but I couldn’t resist the temptation.’
‘How did she take it?’
‘Comparatively calm, Mistress Blythe, comparatively calm. She says, says she, “Well, Providence sends seasons of humiliation to a country, same as to individuals. You Grits have been cold and hungry for many a year. Make haste to get warmed and fed, for you won’t be in long.” “Well, now, Cornelia,” I says, “mebbe Providence thinks Canada needs a real long spell of humiliation.” Ah, Susan, have you heard the news? The Liberals are in.’
Susan had just come in from the kitchen, attended by the odour of delectable dishes which always seemed to hover around her.
‘Now, are they?’ she said, with beautiful unconcern. ‘Well, I never could see but that my bread rose just as light when Grits were in as when they were not. And if any party, Mrs Doctor, dear, will make it rain before the week is out, and save our kitchen garden from entire ruination, that is the party Susan will vote for. In the meantime, will you just step out and give me your opinion on the meat for dinner? I am fearing that it is very tough, and I think that we had better change our butcher as well as our Government.’
One evening, a week later, Anne walked down to the Point, to see if she could get some fresh fish from Captain Jim, leaving Little Jem for the first time. It was quite a tragedy. Suppose he cried? Suppose Susan did not know just exactly what to do for him? Susan was calm and serene.
‘I have had as much experience with him as you, Mrs Doctor, dear, have I not?’
‘Yes, with him – but not with other babies. Why, I looked after three pairs of twins when I was a child, Susan. When they cried I gave them peppermint or castor oil quite coolly. It’s quite curious now to recall how lightly I took all those babies and their woes.’
‘Oh, well, if Little Jem cries, I will just clap a hot-water bag on his little stomach,’ said Susan.
‘Not too hot, you know,’ said Anne anxiously. Oh, was it really wise to go?
‘Do not you fret, Mrs Doctor, dear. Susan is not the woman to burn a wee man. Bless him, he has no notion of crying.’
Anne tore herself away finally and enjoyed her walk to the Point after all, through the long shadows of the sun-setting. Captain Jim was not in the living-room of the lighthouse, but another man was – a handsome, middle-aged man, with a strong, clean-shaven chin, who was unknown to Anne. Nevertheless, when she sat down he began to talk to her with all the assurance of an old acquaintance. There was nothing amiss in what he said or the way he said it, but Anne rather resented such a cool taking-for-granted in a complete stranger. Her replies were frosty, and as few as decency required. Nothing daunted, her companion talked on for several minutes, then excused himself and went away. Anne could have sworn there was a twinkle in his eye, and it annoyed her. Who was the creature?