Chapter 8 A Golden Picnic.
Several months later, in the first days of spring, Anne and Diana met on the road.
Diana, she said, I was just on my way to see you.
I wanted to invite you to my birthday party.
Your birthday party, Diana said.
She was surprised.
Anne, your birthday was in March.
Well, said Anne with a smile, That is hardly my fault.
If my parents had asked me, I would have told them I prefer a spring birthday.
I do love the thought of arriving with the blossoms.
Anne already had her entire party planned.
Jane will be in town, and I've also invited Priscilla Grant, she said.
Priscilla was a friend from school.
She was teaching in nearby town.
I want to go into the woods.
We can explore all those places we've never seen.
Even as children, we didn't explore all of the woods.
Diana did not seem convinced.
That sounds a bit wet, she said.
You should definitely wear boots.
Anne replied, too excited to notice that Diana seemed unhappy about the plans.
The next afternoon, the four girls set off for their day in nature and led the way happily.
Flowers were blooming and green leaves were sprouting on the trees.
The colors of spring were so brilliant after the cold, harsh winter.
It was a relief to step outside again and see the greens, reds, and blues.
Priscilla pointed out a patch of violets.
I do believe, she said, that if a kiss could be seen, it would look like a violet.
Oh, Priscilla, Anne exclaimed.
She clasped her hands against her chest.
I'm so glad that you said that out loud rather than keeping it to yourself.
I think it's so sad when people keep beautiful thoughts to themselves.
Look at this, Diana interrupted.
I've never seen this path before.
Anne followed Diana's gaze.
It's very overgrown, she said.
You have to look closely, but it's definitely a path.
Should we follow it?
Jane asked.
I don't know, Diana said quietly.
It might be dangerous.
That's silly, Anne scoffed.
We can't walk away from an adventure.
Anne was already partly down the path before her friends could disagree.
A few minutes later, the girls found an archway of cherry trees.
The branches were hanging low with white blossoms.
Why, it looks like an entranceway, Anne exclaimed.
It's like a secret garden.
Anne was right.
The girls suddenly found themselves in a beautiful garden.
It looked like no one had been there in years.
There were some weeds and parts were overgrown, but clearly someone had loved it once.
Oh, how wonderful, Priscilla said.
This place looks perfectly magical.
Why would such a lovely garden be back here?
Jane asked.
Must be Hester Grey's garden, Diana said.
I've heard my mother mention it, but I've never seen it before.
Do you know the story, Anne?
No, Anne said, but you must tell it to us now.
You simply can't keep it to yourself for another minute.
The girls all found a place to sit down while Diana started her story.
It happened a good many years ago, Diana began.
All of this land once belonged to Mr. David Gray.
His son, Jordan, went to Boston for work and met Hester.
They moved back to Avonlea and built a house and this garden.
Hester was very delicate.
She was often sick, and the doctor said she wouldn't live long.
She loved this garden, though.
She used to sit out here wrapped in a shawl every day.
Then one day, Jordan carried her into this garden.
He gathered roses and covered her lap with them.
She smiled at him, closed her eyes, and then... Diana could not finish her sentence.
She could not say that Hester had died.
The other three girls all wiped tears from their eyes.
That is such a wonderful story, Anne said.
So romantic.
Do you know what happened to Jordan?
Jane asked.
Mother said that he went back to Boston, where he died a few years later.
He was brought back and buried next to Hester.
I can certainly see why she loved this place, Anne said.
It's almost perfect and so peaceful.
She also planted those cherry trees.
Hester told my mother that she wanted something to live on after her, Diana said.
I wonder if we can find anything else as peaceful in the woods, Anne said as the girls continued to explore.
They found other paths to follow and many more nooks and crannies, but nothing as interesting as Hester's garden.
Eventually, they sat down again beside a flowing brook.
Anne opened up her basket and offered sandwiches to her friends.
It was a simple meal, but delicious, especially after so much walking.
They happily ate and talked about their adventures.
Look over there, Anne said.
"'Do you see that poem?'
"'See that poem?'
Jane said.
"'Whatever are you talking about, Anne?'
"'Just look down the brook.
"'Do you see that beautiful moss-covered log?'
Anne asked.
"'I would call it a picture,' Jane sniffed.
"'Poems are words on a page.'
"'Oh, no,' Anne shook her head.
"'That is where poems end up.'
Poems start right there.
They start with a beautiful view.
They start with something inspiring.
Oh, Anne, Diana laughed.
You really do have a unique way of looking at the world.
Anne did not respond.
She was already lost in thought.
She was staring into the distance and thinking about Hester Grey.
