A Country Wooing Read Online Free PDF

brought home for them. The showing of Loo’s mantilla and Babe’s Spanish doll proved a genteel diversion in the conversation.
    “I got you two ladies a souvenir as well,” Alex said, but he didn’t present the gifts yet, and soon Aunt Tannie bustled them in to dinner.
    “I hope the pork isn’t burned to a cinder,” she scolded. “The grease from it has been smoking up the place for hours. Not that one can blame Pembers, with the stove he has to work with. We need a new stove, Alex.”
    The pork was delicious. It was a happy crowd who sat around the long table in the dining room, though nine people did not even begin to fill the board. Alex sat in state at the head of his table, Aunt Tannie at the foot. Mrs. Wickfield was given the status of guest of honor at her host’s right side, and Anne sat at his left. It was hardly a decorous feast, with Babe spilling her milk and several decrees having to be laid down as to what portion of wine should be allowed the twins and Loo on this special occasion. The twins would keep reverting to various barbaric deaths they planned to inflict on the Frenchies when they got to war, and even Robin came up with a few ingenious methods of torture.
    “This is not an experience we will want to repeat,” Alex said aside to Anne, but said it in such a condoning voice that she knew he didn’t regret this one display of unformed manners.
    He seemed more interested in looking contentedly down the table at his family than in eating. Any harshness she imagined in him before was not in evidence now. He shared his attention with Mrs. Wickfield as well, but it was to Anne that his eyes more often turned, till she formed the idea that her being beside him was at least some part of his pleasure.
    “We’ll have to throw a good big party now that I’m home,” he said. “A ball, do you think, Anne, or a garden party? Or both? We’ll have both. The children won’t get much pleasure from a ball.”
    “Ah, a ball—we haven’t had one since Charles died,” Mrs. Tannie said. “That will be a deal of work for me, trying to shine us up enough to let the world in. You’d best be satisfied with a garden party.”
    Anne had no objection to either. Her mind flew to the white crepe resting on the shelf of Mumbleton’s drapery shop. She would ask the price of it this very week and buy before it was gone. Alex put so many questions and statements to her that she assumed she was to be one of the prime movers in the preparations for his parties. When the meat was placed before Penholme for carving, he laughed nervously.
    “This is the first time I’ve been called upon to act my role. Where do I start? I’m more nervous than on the eve of a battle. Imagine if we had guests present!”
    Far from taking this as a slight, Anne was pleased that she and Mama were considered family. Their life was thin of company, and she worried that Alex’s return might somehow change things. But till he married, at least, it seemed she was to continue acting as an older sister. Whether it was ponies for the girls or new draperies for the blue room, Alex took for granted she would be not only interested but instrumental in the decision.
    “Robin and I will join you shortly,” he said when the meal was finished. “We plan to do the thing up right and claim the males’ privilege of remaining behind for port. Rob has felt the lack of a man around the house, I think. I’ve promised him it will be part of our ritual now that I’m home.”
    It was with an air of importance that Robin drew Mrs. Wickfield’s chair after dinner and stood back to watch the ladies and children leave the room. His chest was still swollen when he strolled into the saloon fifteen minutes later, but Anne found her attention rushing to Alex. He looked pale, and his step was slow. She noticed he held his right hand on his left shoulder, as though it bothered him.
    He came directly to her. “We gulped it down as fast as we could,” he said, and