Home to Avonlea

13. those left in the dark

When Diana reached her house, it was late morning. She'd been missing all night and all morning. There was already several wagons parked outside the gates to the courtyard. These were the makings of a search party. She was in so much trouble.

"Oh no." Diana slid off the horse in haste, all matter of grace or dignity falling from her mind.

Farmer Tilderly tied up the horse before following behind the worried girl. She rushed to the gates and pushed them open, running across the yard. Her tattered, muddied clothes were suddenly abruptly less presentable in bright daylight. We should have thought to offer her a change of clothes too, thought the farmer.

Diana hurried up the stone steps to the large front door and banged on it hard.

"Father! I'm back! Mother!!" She called.

The door was pulled open, causing Diana to stumble as she leant on it. Greeting her was a tall, middle aged man in a neat black suit. He looked to be a Butler of sorts, the farmer thought. He was shocked to see Diana.

"Miss Diana!" He blurted out, before quickly gathering his composure. "Please, come in. Your father is terrible worried for you."

"This is Mr Tilderly, he's helped me." Diana gestured to the farmer.

"Well, of course. Come in, any friend of Diana's..." The Butler said, and let them both in.

The farmer had never seen a house this fancy up close. The floors were oiled hard wood, gleaming as they walked through the hallway lined with gild-framed paintings and gas lamps. There was an elegant staircase and many smart doors leading to beautifully furnished rooms.

Butler led the pair into what appeared to be a sitting room. It was bursting with people, all of them painted with concerned expressions and urgently discussing what sounded like an organised search party and investigation.

"No need for any fuss, father." Said Diana loudly, entering the room. "I'm here."

The room fell silent and all eyes turned upon the pretty girl with dark eyes and torn clothes. For a moment, she was unrecognisable as the well-respected daughter of high Mr Barry.

...

"I don't know what you were thinking young lady!" Cried Mr Barry, furiously. "Your mother and I were worried sick. Disappearing in the dead of night - an empty bed in the morning-- it is unacceptable. Under no circumstances will you ever go out of the house alone in the middle of the night without permission and with no good reason--"

"But father, I wasn't alone -- I was with Gilbert and--"

"Gilbert Blythe?" Mr Barry said. "He's back? I didn't even know he was in town."

"Anne was missing. We had to find her--"

"This is about Anne? Anne Cuthbert?" Asked Mrs Barry, who had remained quiet during the argument.

"Missing?"

"Yes." Said Diana. "We found her - but she was in terrible trouble. She'd been hurt."

"Hurt? What happened to her?" Mrs Barry looked concerned.

She always used to have a low opinion of the orphan girl, but ever since Anne saved the life of her youngest child she held her in much higher favour. She knew that her daughter Diana and Anne shared an unbreakable bond and no matter what they did they'd always find a way to be friends. So the least she could do was ensure Anne was a good example and wasn't getting Diana into trouble.

"She'd been attacked. Me and Gil took her to a nearby farm, where we met the Tilderlys." Diana gestured to the door of the study they were in.

On the other side of the door Mr Tilderly had been asked to wait while the Barry's spoke privately to their daughter. He felt rather awkward, but wanted to assure the Barry's that he'd taken good care of their daughter. So he waited patiently.