Chapter Three:

The Sound Of A Going

Diana nearly tripped over her own feet as she hurried down the stairs to breakfast. Already, she was reminiscing of old Ingleside days and desperate to leave for Redmond.

At the breakfast table, everyone was quiet and withdrawn. No one wanted to talk about leaving. Occasionally, the silence of the meal was punctuated with coughs, scraping cutlery and Gilbert saying;

“Are you excited about going to Redmond?” But until Anne appeared, red-eyed and shaky, no one made much effort to converse.

“Girls, Walt, I can’t believe you’re going to college already!” Anne exclaimed, cheerily yet fakely grinning and trying to look excited. With a fake smile, Nan replied,

“Me neither.” Diana, trying to lighten up the situation, commented on the smart new clothes that Nan had bought for college. Sensing what she was trying to do, Shirley made low comments from where he was sat, but everyone was relieved when breakfast was over.

Back in the small room she shared with Nan, Diana pulled the floral drapes open. Following her usual routine, she sorted the vases of flowers, picked up messes, and plumped up pillows. Quickly, she stashed a few more items in her trunk. She grabbed a pair of neat black shoes that were resting on a faded braided rug, and slipped her stockinged feet into them. Suddenly, she realised that Nan wasn’t here, that her trunk was left open and half-filled. Diana knew exactly where her twin would be.

Down in Rainbow Valley, Nan was pressing a handkerchief against her watery eyes. She was resting against the arched Tree Lovers, and a gentle wind blew the sound of wind chimes through Rainbow Valley.

“Nan!” Di cried. “Why are you down here?” With giant strides, Diana hurried over to her bleak faced sister

“ I just miss Jerry so much,” Nan sobbed. “I’m fine-I’ll cope.” Clasping Diana’s outstretched hand, Nan rose from her mossy seat, being careful not to step on any of the flowers that grew wild in Rainbow Valley

“You must finish packing! There’s no time to waste!” Diana exclaimed, seeing that her sister was calm. Holding hands, they hurried back up to Ingleside.

Quietly shutting the door behind her, Diana heard Susan calling for her and headed to the kitchen. Susan, who was busily kneading dough, motioned towards a parcel about the size of a fist and wrapped in familiar brown parcel paper. It was addressed to Diana! Noticing the return address, Susan queried,

“Is it a parcel from Anne Cordelia or Aunt Diana?” Blushing a little, Diana gave a curt shrug and held the package tightly in her hand. She dashed upstairs, and peeked round into her room, where Nan was hurriedly packing her things for Redmond. Deciding not to show Nan the parcel, Diana climbed up to the garret and slowly unwrapped the brown paper. A small sheet of paper fell onto her lap. Before opening the box that was also in the package, Diana opened the letter. It read;

Dearest Di,

Sorry about the fight. I love you, but you know what Cordy gets like. If I upset the Pyes or their friends, the world will end. By the time you get this, I’ll have left. I don’t know if I’ll return, and in case I don’t I’ve enclosed something for you to remember me by. And always remember I love you.

Your

Jack

As she read the letter, Diana’s heart skipped a beat. Opening the small box she could barely contain her excitement. Inside was a neat, carefully crafted compass hanging off a slim gold chain. Di fastened it around her neck and reminisced of old days when she had visited Avonlea. Jack had saved up for this compass, and all summer he guided Walter, Di and Nan around Avonlea. They could arrive in the Haunted Wood just in time for sunset, and in the perfect place. One day, they even followed a map to the sea! Thinking of the times almost made Di forget her troubles. However, she soon remembered that she would be leaving for Redmond in a hour. Tapping the compass lightly, she skipped blithely into her bedroom. Cupping her hands round her lips, she called out,

“Jem! Walter! Shirley! Dad!” and waited until one or the other would come and help her carry her trunk. Nervously, she twisted the hem of skirt between her fingers. Although she was ecstatic about going to Redmond, it hurt her to think that she was, in a way, abandoning her mother. Anne was so upset over Jem leaving though she tried to putt on a brave face. Oh! Diana screeched. She had called for Jem!

At the train station later that day, Diana waved oood-bye to Shirley, hugged Dad, and kissed Anne and Rilla. Inside her carriage, she chatted quietly with Walter, and Nan struck up a conversation with a lady sat behind her.

“I’m so glad you aren’t going to fight, Walter,” Diana began. Walter grimaced.

“Hmm…” Walter mumbled. Diana, he felt sure, wouldn’t understand.

“Mother had such a nice time there- she met Auntie Phil there! Remember, the reverend’s wife, who used to have trouble deciding which stamp to put on a letter?” she asked.

“Sort of.” said Walter, not really listening.

For the rest of the journey, things carried on in this manner, with Di trying to cheer Walter up, and Walter acting like a melancholy poet.

“Which,” Diana thought aloud, “He is.” Just then, the train stopped. Hop on the ferry, then she would be at Redmond!

***

Several hours later, Diana and Nan collapsed, exhausted, on their lumpy boarding house beds.

“Ewww!” exclaimed Nan.

“What?” asked Di wearily.

“ This mattress. It’s so uncomfortable,” Nan whinged.

“ Look, Faith will be here tomorrow, and Persis in a few days. When they arrive, we can club together for a small rented place, but it’s just a few nights here, Nan. Try and be positive!” Di cried.

A/N: So, I am alive I apologise it has taken me so long to get a new chapter up, and I will try and update a little more often. Please review- I know it sounds corny, but they really do help me improve, and they just make me happy!