In the Woods When First We Met

20. Sundown

Gilbert walked her home late in the day, when the sun was beginning its hazy descent into the pink horizon. The days were getting shorter, and winter was coming.

Anne shivered as she pulled her shawl around herself, her breath making little puffs of clouds in the air.

Gilbert walked with her as far as the meadow, and then she told him she'd better go alone now.

If Marilla or Matthew saw a boy walking her home, they'd worry.

Anne began to unwrap Gilbert's scarf from her arm as they stood together at the edge of the meadow.

"Keep it," Gilbert said, touching her arm gently. "You might need it later."

"I don't want Marilla and Matthew to see-"

"But they'll have to know- at least just the part about your arm," Gilbert said. "Although I think you should tell them the rest, too."

"No," Anne said firmly. "I won't. I can't."

"Well, keep the scarf. You can always tell them you tripped over a root while walking to school. Anybody can trip over a root. And a boy at school let you borrow his scarf. That's all."

He looked at her quietly, a bit sad.

Anne looked down at the careful way he'd wrapped it around her- snug enough to alleviate her pain, but not too tight. "Okay," she said at last.

They stood there a minute, looking at each other.

They'd spent the whole day together- the whole horrible day that had somehow been better for being together- and now they didn't know quite how to end it.

"Will you be at school tomorrow?" Gilbert finally asked.

Anne bit her lip. "I suppose I'll have to be," she said.

But she looked back at the woods, which were darkening now in the soft twilight and would still be not-quite-light yet in the morning when she had to face them again.

Gilbert spoke up suddenly, an idea coming to him. "I'll meet you here tomorrow. Then you won't have to walk to school alone. Is that all right?"

Anne looked gratefully at him.

"Thank you," she said softly. "Thank you for...everything."

Gilbert smiled at her. "Tomorrow," he said. "I'll come early."

Anne turned homeward alone, but when she reached the edge of Green Gables, she turned back to him.

He was still there, waiting, making sure she got home safe.

When she reached the front door, with her hand on the knob, she turned back again- and he was gone.