In the Woods When First We Met

159. Diana Comes Back

Monday morning Gilbert came to school alone. He set out for Green Gables out of habit, and then realized and turned around. The walk to school felt twice as long as normal, even though it only took him half the time. He missed Anne.

When he got to school, he found that Diana was back. He was glad to see her, but it didn't take long before all the others filled her in on what everyone in school now knew.

Ruby told Diana what had happened on Friday afternoon, when the girls had confronted Anne in the privy about her baby coming and marrying Gilbert when it was really Billy's child.

While Diana already knew about what had happened to Anne, she had never thought about a baby coming from it, and Anne hadn't said anything about a baby, so Diana didn't know what to think. She managed to whisper to Gilbert before school began, "They're saying Anne's having a baby...is she?"

Gilbert didn't say anything for a moment. Then, finally: "Well...we don't know yet. But they seem convinced it's definite. Ruby overheard Anne saying she was upset because if she had a baby then she couldn't get married wearing white. They think Anne and I are getting married because of it."

"Why you?" Diana asked. "Don't they know it was Billy?"

"Yes," Gilbert answered. "But...it was a whole big thing, a big blow-up. Billy admitted in front of everyone that he did do something, but he's denying he forced her- he's got Josie believing that Anne threw herself at him. Anyway, they think I'm marrying her because Billy's abandoned her."

Diana's brow creased with worry. "Is Anne out sick, or..."

"No, her family knows, they're making her stay home. And I'm glad, she shouldn't be here, not with Billy, it's not right...although I wish he would be the one to leave, and she'd come back. It isn't fair to her." Then he sighed. "I don't think she wants to come back to school anyway, now, since she knows everyone here has been told she's having a baby. ...She'd be sick over it."

"Poor dear," Diana said. "And I don't know what to do about it..." She looked so upset for Anne.

Gilbert went on, "I wondered if your mother and father had been told about this. If they haven't, they will be soon, I'm sure....Only the girls and Billy knew Friday, but now it's Monday and everyone in school knows. You might want to be thinking about what you're going to say when they ask you about it."

Diana nodded, worried.

Class began.