In the Woods When First We Met

148. Boundaries

When Matthew came home, Marilla was waiting at the window, watching for him.

He came in, saw her face, and stopped short. "What is it?"

Marilla pursed her lips. "Sit down. We need to talk about Anne."

After Marilla had relayed the information in exactly the same way Gilbert had relayed it to her, poor Matthew sat stunned.

Finally he spoke up: "When we rode to the store for the sugar, she started talking but I thought she was feeling poorly about being left an orphan. That's what...that's what I spoke to her about. I just told her that they wouldn't have left her alone if they'd had any choice, and that they still loved her even though they couldn't be with her. ...I told her how glad we were to have her...and she seemed to feel better. ...I thought that's all it was."

They sat there a moment, Matthew still shaking his head in shock.

But Matthew did not have a chance to adjust to the news before they were interrupted by a sharp rap on the front door.

The Cuthbert's looked at each other, knowing all too well who it was that had come to see them. "Well," Marilla said, getting up, "We must face the music."

Matthew hesitated, then reluctantly got up and followed slowly.

Marilla opened the door with trepidation.

The door was hardly opened before Harmon Andrews began angrily, "Miss Cuthbert, we need to have a discussion about your child. I don't know if you're aware, but that girl has been spreading revolting rumors about our son! We've come to settle this. Is your brother home? The two of you must do something about her!"

When Marilla first heard from Gilbert that the Andrews planned to confront her, she had begun to think about how they would have that conversation, and what she ought to say.

She was glad that she had gotten Anne to bed already, so that she would not be aware that the Andrews had come at all.

But now, actually seeing the Andrews, and knowing that Matthew had not even begun to process this- and she herself needed time to reflect on it- she decided that any discussion with the Andrews needed to wait.

Matthew came up behind Marilla now, joining her at the door.

Marilla was diplomatic. "I quite agree we have a great deal to discuss. But not tonight."

She thought a moment. She did not want the discussion to take place at Green Gables. She did not want Anne to hear any discussions they had with the Andrews. "We will come to your house. Tomorrow. About three o'clock. Would that be suitable?"

Mrs. Andrews put her hand on Harmon's arm. "That's for the best, I think, dear. Maybe it is best for us all to have a night to gather our thoughts and calm down a bit before we approach this."

A small voice wafted down to them from upstairs: "Marilla..." Anne called. Anne had woken at the sound of the urgent, angry knock at the door. She did not know what it was that had woken her, but now she was thirsty. She knew she ought to get out of bed and get water for herself, rather than expecting it to be brought to her, but she didn't want to get up, and, knowing that Marilla was willing to take care of her, she just called out to her.

"Excuse me. I need to be with my daughter now." Marilla said calmly, starting to shut the door.

"Now wait just a minute!" Harmon said angrily. "That girl is bent on destroying our sons good name and you don't seem to be the slightest bit concerned about that!"

Matthew said now, speaking firmly, his voice coming out surprisingly strong, "Our concern is for our child and the trauma she been through at the hands of your son. Marilla told you when we would come speak to you. Now goodnight."

And he shut the door in their faces.