Chapter 12 Tea Time with Paul Irving Not every day was an adventure for Anne.
There were many days at Green Gables that passed simply and quietly.
These days, when nothing exciting or splendid happened, were the ones that Anne loved best.
It's a day of simple pleasure, she would say to Marilla, when one event softly follows another.
It was on just such a day in late August that Anne walked to Paul Irving's home and found Paul lying under a tree reading a book of fairy tales.
He jumped up as soon as he saw her.
Oh, teacher, he called.
I'm so glad to see you.
You've arrived just in time for tea.
You'll stop for tea, won't you?
Thank you very much, Anne said.
I would love to have tea with you.
Will your grandmother be serving her delicious shortbread?
Paul looked very serious.
I'm not sure that will happen, he said.
Grandmother doesn't like me to eat so many sweets.
She might offer you some, though.
I'll just promise not to eat any myself.
That's very kind of you, Paul, Anne said.
I don't mind if your grandmother decides not to serve any shortbread.
I came here to visit you. not to eat cookies.
Paul smiled.
He took Anne's hand and led her into the house.
Paul's grandmother welcomed Anne.
She put out the tea, including the shortbread cookies, and they all sat down together.
When they were done eating, Paul's grandmother went into the yard to hang up laundry.
May I tell you something, teacher?
Paul asked.
Certainly, Anne said.
You may tell me anything you'd like.
Mrs. Lynde visited us last week, Paul said.
She saw a picture of my mother and said she was pretty.
Then she asked if I was ready for my father to get married again.
Paul continued.
She asked if I was ready for a new mother.
Paul, Anne said.
That might happen, you know.
People do get remarried.
I know that, teacher.
Paul said.
I told Mrs Lynn that father did a fine job picking out a wife the first time and I was sure he'd do just as well when picking out the second.
I only hope that he will ask my opinion when the time comes.
That would be nice.
When they were finished their tea and cookies, Anne and Paul carried their dishes into the kitchen.
They washed and dried dishes, then put them away.
Anne and Paul spent the rest of the afternoon talking and telling stories.
They imagined what life would be like in a fairyland or if they lived on a star.
It was a very pleasant day.
They both had the same kind of imagination.
When Anne finally went home to Green Gables, she found a very different little boy waiting for her.
While she was tucking him in, Davy flopped onto his bed without a word.
He was sulking.
Davy, Anne asked, whatever is the matter with you, usually you want to tell me all about your day.
What does it matter?
Davy sulked.
You're always going to like Paul Irving better.
Davy, Anne exclaimed, I do not like Paul better.
I like you just as much, but in a different way.
I want you to like me in the same way, Davy said, his face buried in his pillow.
We all like different people in different ways, Anne said.
You don't like Dora and I in the same way, do you?
Davy thought about this for a moment.
No, he said.
I suppose not.
But I like Dora because she's my sister.
I like you because you're you.
And I like Davy because he is Davy and Paul because he is Paul, Anne said.
Davy was convinced by this logic.
He gave Anne a kiss goodnight and went straight to sleep.
Meanwhile, Anne decided to go for a walk.
It was a beautiful moonlit night, so she walked over to the creek and sat down on the bank.
She was only there a few minutes when she saw someone else walking toward her.
It was Gilbert Blythe.
For the first time, Anne noticed that Gilbert was grown up.
He no longer looked like a young boy.
Anne also had to admit that Gilbert was handsome.
He was not her ideal man, but he was handsome.
Many years ago, Diana and Anne decided on their ideal husbands.
They must be tall, dark, and mysterious.
They must have piercing and intense eyes. and there was nothing mysterious about Gilbert.
He was welcoming and kind.
Gilbert sat down beside Anne.
If someone asked him to describe his ideal wife, he would describe Anne.
In Gilbert's eyes, everything about Anne was perfect.
Even those things Anne disliked, her freckles and red hair, Gilbert thought were beautiful.
Gilbert never said a word of this to Anne, though.
He was certain that she would turn him away, or laugh at him, and that would be ten times worse.
Anne and Gilbert sat by the brook for some time talking about the Avonlea Village Improvement Society and the end of their vacation.
Then he walked her home along the lane.
They lingered at the gate as they said goodnight.
Marilla looked up from her sewing when Anne stepped into the kitchen.
That must have been some walk, Marilla said.
What do you mean?
Anne asked.
You have the silliest smile on your face, Marilla said.
She had always suspected that Anne secretly liked Gilbert as more than a friend, but she knew that Anne would never admit it.
Oh.
Anne replied, Do I?
She looked at herself in the hall mirror.
Well, she added, you know how fond I am of summer walks.
Anne bounded up the stairs to write all the day's events in her journal.
