Chapter XXIII
Paul Cannot Find the Rock People
Life was very pleasant in Avonlea that summer, although Anne, amid all her
vacation joys, was haunted by a sense of “something gone which should be
there.” She would not admit, even in her inmost reflections, that this was caused
by Gilbert’s absence. But when she had to walk home alone from prayer
meetings and A.V.I.S. pow-wows, while Diana and Fred, and many other gay
couples, loitered along the dusky, starlit country roads, there was a queer, lonely
ache in her heart which she could not explain away. Gilbert did not even write to
her, as she thought he might have done. She knew he wrote to Diana
occasionally, but she would not inquire about him; and Diana, supposing that
Anne heard from him, volunteered no information. Gilbert’s mother, who was a
gay, frank, light-hearted lady, but not overburdened with tact, had a very
embarrassing habit of asking Anne, always in a painfully distinct voice and
always in the presence of a crowd, if she had heard from Gilbert lately. Poor
Anne could only blush horribly and murmur, “not very lately,” which was taken
by all, Mrs. Blythe included, to be merely a maidenly evasion.
Apart from this, Anne enjoyed her summer. Priscilla came for a merry visit in
June; and, when she had gone, Mr. and Mrs. Irving, Paul and Charlotta the
Fourth came “home” for July and August.
Echo Lodge was the scene of gaieties once more, and the echoes over the river
were kept busy mimicking the laughter that rang in the old garden behind the
spruces.
“Miss Lavendar” had not changed, except to grow even sweeter and prettier.
Paul adored her, and the companionship between them was beautiful to see.
“But I don’t call her ‘mother’ just by itself,” he explained to Anne. “You see,
THAT name belongs just to my own little mother, and I can’t give it to any one
else. You know, teacher. But I call her ‘Mother Lavendar’ and I love her next
best to father. I—I even love her a LITTLE better than you, teacher.”
“Which is just as it ought to be,” answered Anne.
Paul was thirteen now and very tall for his years. His face and eyes were as