In the Woods When First We Met

156. The War of 1812

Sunday afternoon, Gilbert stood on the front porch of Green Gables and knocked on the door. He had brought his War of 1812 notes to church with him, but the Cuthbert's weren't in church. So, despite feeling apprehensive, he made a house call.

Marilla answered. "Hello, Gilbert," she said. "I can let Anne know you're here, but I don't think she'll-"

"Oh, I know," Gilbert said. "She told me she'd never speak to me again. And she's pretty determined when she decides on something, so...I don't expect her to change her mind, at least not any time soon."

"But you still told," Marilla commented.

He shrugged. "I'd rather her get help, even if it means losing her." He looked sad for a moment, but then shook his head and spoke up, "We're having a test this week on The War of 1812, and I made a copy of my notes for Anne. I wanted to bring them over to you. Maybe you could give them to her."

Marilla took the papers, looking down at them. But then she said, "Anne won't be in school this week, Gilbert."

Gilbert said, "Oh, I know."

Marilla looked at him questioningly.

Gilbert explained, "She showed me the note from Mr. Phillips- but, well, I didn't want her to miss out on the lesson, even if she can't actually take the test.""

"That's kind of you."

Gilbert shrugged. "I thought it might help her to have something else to think about. Good afternoon, Miss Cuthbert."

He stepped off the porch to go.

Marilla had not seen any note from Mr. Phillips, but she called him back. "Gilbert, Mr. Phillip's note isn't really why we're not sending her to school just yet. We need time..." She shook her head firmly, "We can't have her in school with Billy."

Gilbert nodded in agreement, looked solemn. "That's for the best. It's been...It's been hard..."

He said that in such a knowing way that Marilla seemed surprised at the air of familiarity he gave off, and by the expression on her face, Gilbert felt that he had overstepped- that he had sounded as if he thought he were the resident expert on Anne, and that wasn't what he meant at all.

Marilla said, "Uh, Gilbert. We are Anne's family-"

"I'm sorry," Gilbert said quickly. "I didn't mean to sound like I had any business giving an opinion on what's best for her."

"No, actually," Marilla interrupted. "I was just realizing as you stand here in front of me, that...you know more than we do."

Gilbert shook his head. "No, you're her family, I didn't mean to presume-"

"But you see, Anne took you into her confidence," Marilla explained. "You were very important to her for a long time. You still are, even if she doesn't admit it. And you know things that we can't possibly know. So I want to ask you- if there are things we need help with- with her- if we can depend on you. I won't ask you to reveal any more secrets- although if there are any more, I hope you would choose to tell me of your own accord. But if there are questions we have, or...things you think of that might help us understand her, we would be grateful."

Gilbert looked at her, nodding slowly. He said simply, "Anything I can do for her."

Then he took a breath and glanced around. "Well, I won't stick around, I better go- I know she's angry with me. But hopefully she'll accept the history notes even though they're from me. And...I can keep bringing notes, if you want? I'd like to, actually...if that's ok. So she can keep moving ahead. Then, if she's ever able to come back to school, she won't have fallen behind again."

Marilla nodded. "That would be a good thing, I think. Thank you, Gilbert."