In the Woods When First We Met

24. Books

Chapter 24- Books

Author note: I had to do a big thing for school about the history of children's literature, so in this chapter I ended up mentioning books I had to read about.

Also, in the scene where Anne is going to school for the first time (in the t.v. show) I noticed that she has a book she brings to school called Elsie's New Relations by Martha Finley. It is part of a series called Elsie Dinsmore. I read it too.

Since I saw she has the book in the tv show, I wanted to include it in this story too.

Billy Andrews is going to mention her Elsie book later in another chapter too.

Dinner was very quiet, as Anne hardly spoke at all. It was out of character for her, but she was afraid that if she spoke too much she would let something slip about missing school. She considered making up a story about being at school- and she actually came up with several amusing anecdotes about things that could have happened- before giving up the plan entirely due to being worried she wouldn't be able to keep her story straight since her head was pounding and she really just wanted to go back to sleep.

"I'll wash the dishes, Marilla," Anne said, tiredly, as dinner was coming to an end. She started to stand up.

"Anne, you mustn't do the washing, your arm needs rest," Marilla said, sounding as if Anne was a bother. She began collecting the dishes herself.

Matthew watched her with concern. Then he said, "Why don't you go and read in the parlor? That won't hurt your arm, will it?" He smiled at her, knowing she enjoyed reading.

Anne gave him a grateful smile, and said, "Thank you. Excuse me," she said, leaving the table.

Anne went up to her room and pulled out her book. She only had a few books of her very own- her school reader and her math book, and an Elsie Dinsmore series book called Elsie's New Relations. She was a quick reader, but she'd been reading it slowly on purpose to make it last longer.

She took it downstairs and curled up on the rug on the floor near the fireplace.

She read one chapter, then another, and wondered if she should stop. She hated to stop reading, but she also hated to finish too quickly and then be sad it was over.

Of course she would read the book again and again, but she'd never again have the deliciousness of not knowing what was going to happen next. That only came with the very first reading, and she wanted to savor it.

Sighing, she closed the book.

Matthew, who'd been looking at the newspaper, looked over at her. "Finished?" He asked.

"Not yet," Anne said. "I think I'll save it. I hate running out of things to read."

Matthew smiled and gestured at the paper. "You can always read the news."

"I'll read the news," Anne said, "But only to know what's happening. The news isn't much of a story. Not a story story. Not the kind of thing you can lose yourself in. What did you like to read, Matthew, when you were my age?"

Matthew considered it. "Well, I liked..." His voice trailed off. "We've still got our books- the ones from our child-days. Marilla?" He called out. "We've still got our old books, haven't we? The ones we had as children?"

Marilla came into the parlor, drying her hands on her apron. "We surely do," she said, "In the cabinet right here. No, the one with the embroidered screen over it. Yes, down at the bottom." She watched as Matthew found the right spot.