In the Woods When First We Met

187. Conspire

On Monday morning before school began, Diana gave Gilbert a letter to take to Anne.

"Oh," Gilbert said, "I have one for you, too," he pulled a crumpled note from his pocket. "...Sorry," he said as he tried to straighten it out.

"That's all right. I'll have to throw it out after I've read it anyway. I wish I could keep her letters and read them again and again," Diana said sadly, "but I always put them in the fireplace so my mother won't find them. She's still telling me Anne is...unsuitable" Diana did not tell them the other word her mother had used to describe what kind of girl she thought Anne was.

Jane said quietly, "I wanted to write to Anne, too, but I was afraid. She must hate me."

Gilbert didn't know what to say. He didn't think Anne would blame Jane for what her brother had done, though he couldn't be sure, and anyway- Jane was so close to the situation, but from the other side. "Why don't you write to her anyway? I'll see if she'll read it. You want to try?"

Jane bit her lip, nodding.

At lunch time, Jane sat over a piece of paper for a long time before she finally finished a note. And even after all that time, all it said was:

Dear Anne,

I'm on your side.

-Jane

When school was letting out, Jane asked, "I wanted to know if you two could help me with something. ...Are you going to Anne's house?"

"No," Gilbert said. "I don't go on Mondays and Wednesdays anymore. She spends most of the afternoon taking care of someone's baby, and by the time she's done it's dinnertime, so..." He looked despondent, as if even two afternoons a week was too many to spend away from Anne.

Diana was watching him with interest.

Jane said, "Well, good, then. See I've got a plan...sort of. I'm not exactly sure how to carry it out. I was hoping you two could help me. Let's get our things and I'll tell you about it while we're walking."

But when Gilbert went to get his coat and put it on, Ruby popped up in front of him. "Gilbert, is Anne ever coming back? It's awfully hard to get things planned when I can't even consult with her."

Gilbert almost laughed; Consult had been on the spelling list for the week.

"Well, Ruby, guess what? Anne wants you to come over some time. I'll ask her which day, okay? I know it won't be on a Monday or a Wednesday, though."

Ruby almost jumped up and down. "Good. I'll have to ask my mother, but I'm sure she'll let me. She's all right with you two, remember? She says as long as there's a marriage before any baby comes she won't make us stop being friends."

Gilbert sighed. "That's great, I'm glad." But he thought, I don't know if there's going to be a baby or a marriage, but if there is, they're going to happen in the wrong order.

He said goodbye to Ruby and went back to Diana and Jane.

"What did you want us to do, Jane?" Diana was asking.

"I have something we can use. To help Anne."

Jane waited until most of the school room was empty before she went back into the cloakroom and pulled something from her coat pocket.

"What is that?" Diana asked in disgust, seeing the blood.

"I know what it is," Gilbert breathed. "I've got the buttons."

"Do you?" Jane breathed. "That's good."

"What are you talking about? What is that? And why is it covered in blood?" Diana asked, her nose wrinkled.

"It's my brother's shirt," Jane explained. "He went to bother Anne and Gilbert punched him and Anne ripped his shirt-"

Diana interrupted. "Wait, wait, what? When was this?"

"Only yesterday," Jane said. "The Cuthberts came over to tell my parents about what Billy did and of course they denied it, but I made Billy confess. I dragged him out and told everyone." She looked triumphant, but only for a moment, until her face turned remorseful and she said- "But that's what got him so angry- if I hadn't done that, he never would have gone over there..."

Gilbert spoke up. "You did the right thing, Jane. Telling was right. What Billy did afterward wasn't your fault."

"What happened?" Diana asked quietly, fearing the worst.

Gilbert said, "He...came into the house without knocking and pushed Anne on the floor. I walked in to him on top of her with her petticoat in his hand."

Diana's hand flew to her mouth. "He didn't..."

Gilbert shook his head.

"This is just awful!" Diana exclaimed. "I wish my mother could understand...it isn't fair for Anne, she's gone through so much and she's alone- except for you, Gilbert- but I mean she doesn't have me with her and-"

"And she wants to," Gilbert finished. "She misses you, Diana. But I think Jane's figured out a way...haven't you, Jane?"

Jane smiled at them. A real smile, confidant and excited. "I think so. But I need your help..."