CHAPTER XXXIV
MR. HYDE GOES TO HIS OWN PLACE AND SUSAN TAKES A HONEYMOON
Early in November Jims left Ingleside. Rilla saw him go with many tearsbut a heart free from boding. Mrs. Jim Anderson, Number Two, was such anice little woman that one was rather inclined to wonder at the luckwhich bestowed her on Jim. She was rosy-faced and blue-eyed andwholesome, with the roundness and trigness of a geranium leaf. Rillasaw at first glance that she was to be trusted with Jims.
"I'm fond of children, miss," she said heartily. "I'm used tothem--I've left six little brothers and sisters behind me. Jims is adear child and I must say you've done wonders in bringing him up sohealthy and handsome. I'll be as good to him as if he was my own, miss.And I'll make Jim toe the line all right. He's a good worker--all heneeds is some one to keep him at it, and to take charge of his money.We've rented a little farm just out of the village, and we're going tosettle down there. Jim wanted to stay in England but I says 'No.' Ihankered to try a new country and I've always thought Canada would suitme."
"I'm so glad you are going to live near us. You'll let Jims come hereoften, won't you? I love him dearly."
"No doubt you do, miss, for a lovabler child I never did see. Weunderstand, Jim and me, what you've done for him, and you won't find usungrateful. He can come here whenever you want him and I'll always beglad of any advice from you about his bringing up. He is more your babythan anyone else's I should say, and I'll see that you get your fairshare of him, miss."
So Jims went away--with the soup tureen, though not in it. Then thenews of the Armistice came, and even Glen St. Mary went mad. That nightthe village had a bonfire, and burned the Kaiser in effigy. The fishingvillage boys turned out and burned all the sandhills off in one grandglorious conflagration that extended for seven miles. Up at InglesideRilla ran laughing to her room.
"Now I'm going to do a most unladylike and inexcusable thing," shesaid, as she pulled her green velvet hat out of its box. "I'm going tokick this hat about the room until it is without form and void; and Ishall never as long as I live wear anything of that shade of greenagain."
"You've certainly kept your vow pluckily," laughed Miss Oliver.
"It wasn't pluck--it was sheer obstinacy--I'm rather ashamed of it,"said Rilla, kicking joyously. "I wanted to show mother. It's mean towant to show your own mother--most unfilial conduct! But I have shownher. And I've shown myself a few things! Oh, Miss Oliver, just for onemoment I'm really feeling quite young again--young and frivolous andsilly. Did I ever say November was an ugly month? Why it's the mostbeautiful month in the whole year. Listen to the bells ringing inRainbow Valley! I never heard them so clearly. They're ringing forpeace--and new happiness--and all the dear, sweet, sane, homey thingsthat we can have again now, Miss Oliver. Not that I am sane just now--Idon't pretend to be. The whole world is having a little crazy spelltoday. Soon we'll sober down--and 'keep faith'--and begin to build upour new world. But just for today let's be mad and glad."
Susan came in from the outdoor sunlight looking supremely satisfied.
"Mr. Hyde is gone," she announced.
"Gone! Do you mean he is dead, Susan?"
"No, Mrs. Dr. dear, that beast is not dead. But you will never see himagain. I feel sure of that."
"Don't be so mysterious, Susan. What has happened to him?"
"Well, Mrs. Dr. dear, he was sitting out on the back steps thisafternoon. It was just after the news came that the Armistice had beensigned and he was looking his Hydest. I can assure you he was anawesome looking beast. All at once, Mrs. Dr. dear, Bruce Meredith camearound the corner of the kitchen walking on his stilts. He has beenlearning to walk on them lately and came over to show me how well hecould do it. Mr. Hyde just took a look and one bound carried him overthe yard fence. Then he went tearing through the maple grove in greatleaps with his ears laid back. You never saw a creature so terrified,Mrs. Dr. dear. He has never returned."
"Oh, he'll come back, Susan, probably chastened in spirit by hisfright."
"We will see, Mrs. Dr. dear--we will see. Remember, the Armistice hasbeen signed. And that reminds me that Whiskers-on-the-moon had aparalytic stroke last night. I am not saying it is a judgment on him,because I am not in the counsels of the Almighty, but one can haveone's own thoughts about it. Neither Whiskers-on-the-moon or Mr. Hydewill be much more heard of in Glen St. Mary, Mrs. Dr. dear, and thatyou may tie to."
Mr. Hyde certainly was heard of no more. As it could hardly have beenhis fright that kept him away the Ingleside folk decided that some darkfate of shot or poison had descended on him--except Susan, who believedand continued to affirm that he had merely "gone to his own place."Rilla lamented him, for she had been very fond of her stately goldenpussy, and had liked him quite as well in his weird Hyde moods as inhis tame Jekyll ones.
"And now, Mrs. Dr. dear," said Susan, "since the fall house-cleaning isover and the garden truck is all safe in cellar, I am going to take ahoneymoon to celebrate the peace."
"A honeymoon, Susan?"
"Yes, Mrs. Dr. dear, a honeymoon," repeated Susan firmly. "I shallnever be able to get a husband but I am not going to be cheated out ofeverything and a honeymoon I intend to have. I am going toCharlottetown to visit my married brother and his family. His wife hasbeen ailing all the fall, but nobody knows whether she is going to dienot. She never did tell anyone what she was going to do until she didit. That is the main reason why she was never liked in our family. Butto be on the safe side I feel that I should visit her. I have not beenin town for over a day for twenty years and I have a feeling that Imight as well see one of those moving pictures there is so much talkof, so as not to be wholly out of the swim. But have no fear that Ishall be carried away with them, Mrs. Dr. dear. I shall be away afortnight if you can spare me so long."
"You certainly deserve a good holiday, Susan. Better take a month--thatis the proper length for a honeymoon."
"No, Mrs. Dr. dear, a fortnight is all I require. Besides, I must behome for at least three weeks before Christmas to make the properpreparations. We will have a Christmas that is a Christmas this year,Mrs. Dr. dear. Do you think there is any chance of our boys being homefor it?"
"No, I think not, Susan. Both Jem and Shirley write that they don'texpect to be home before spring--it may be even midsummer beforeShirley comes. But Carl Meredith will be home, and Nan and Di, and wewill have a grand celebration once more. We'll set chairs for all,Susan, as you did our first war Christmas--yes, for all--for my dearlad whose chair must always be vacant, as well as for the others,Susan."
"It is not likely I would forget to set his place, Mrs. Dr. dear," saidSusan, wiping her eyes as she departed to pack up for her "honeymoon."