In the Woods When First We Met

153. Anne on Trial

Author's Note- To have them talk about what they should actually DO about Billy's attack, I realized that I would need to know what the law said about that sort of thing in the time period. I read some academic journals and found out a short list of facts, which I will be writing into my story so that it is as historically accurate as I can make it, but, I began to get upset by it and had physical affects from reading that stuff, so I stopped reading, so it is possible there could be more stuff I don't know, but I did as much reading as I could stand.

Back then things were not good for women. Even though I never told anyone what happened to me, reading this made me feel glad that I live today where I *could* have done something about it and probably been believed, instead of living back in this time period.

-

The Cuthberts waited all evening, and Anne, who didn't know that the Ryland's son was coming over to their house, picked up on their nervousness. Matthew tried to distract her- and himself- by playing checkers.

Finally Marilla looked at the clock and said, "Anne, you ought to go to bed now."

Anne was surprised. "Marilla, it's only eight o'clock," she said.

"Well...you look tired. And you need extra rest, I think."

"I'm not tired," Anne protested.

"I told you it's time for bed," Marilla said firmly. "Go."

"All right, all right..." Anne grumbled, getting up to go.

"I'll come up with you and read to you for a bit, all right? Will that help?" Marilla was going to tell Anne she could read in bed, but she could already picture Anne huddled over her lamp, her eyes struggling to stay open as she pushed herself to keep reading and reading late into the night. So Marilla hoped that if she read to Anne herself, then Anne would lay down and shut her eyes and maybe as she listened to Marilla's calm voice she would drift off to sleep.

As soon as Anne had gone, Marilla stood up to follow her and said to Matthew, "I'm going to see if I can get her to sleep. If the Ryland's son is going to come over tonight, I don't want her to be listening in at the door while we talk."

Matthew nodded.

He put the game away and then got up, looking out the window into the dark evening. Mrs. Ryland had told him she'd ask her son to come over, but maybe she forgot. Or maybe he didn't want to come. Matthew hoped the boy would come tonight, and not decide it was too late and he'd come in the morning.

Marilla was only upstairs for a few minutes before she came down again. "She was out as soon as her head hit the pillow," she said with amusement. "Not tired, she said. Well, I'm glad."

Matthew nodded.

It was good Marilla got Anne settled for the night because it was only a half-hour later that Morgan Ryland stood on their doorstep.

He did not have to knock, Matthew was watching at the door still.

"Mr. Cuthbert, Miss Cuthbert," he said, smiling and shaking hands, "It's so good to see you."

"Welcome," Marilla said, ushering him in. "Thank you so much for coming."

"I hope I'm not too late," He said apologetically. "I realize the hour, but my mother said you seemed most anxious to speak with me about something that I hated to make you wait until tomorrow after she told you I'd come tonight."

"Oh, no," Marilla said, "We're glad you came tonight- I hope it didn't trouble you to come in the dark..."

Marilla got tea for them and they sat down in the parlor.