Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the seventh chapter of Anne's House of Dreams.

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Today we'll be continuing Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Chapter Seven the Schoolmaster's Bride who is the first bride who came to this house, Captain Jim, and asked as I sat around the fireplace after supper, was.

She part of the story I've heard was connected with this house?

Asked Gilbert.

Somebody told me you could tell it, Captain Jim.

Well.

Yes, I know it.

I reckon I'm the only person living in Four winds now that can remember the schoolmaster's bride as she was when she come to the island.

She's been dead this 30 year, but she was one of them women you never forget.

Tell us the story, pleaded Anne.

I want to find out all about the women who have lived in this house before me.

Well, there's just been three elizabeth Russell and Mrs.

Ned Russell and the schoolmaster's bride.

Elizabeth Russell was a nice, clever little critter, and Mrs.

Ned was a nice woman too.

But they weren't ever like the schoolmaster's bride.

The schoolmaster's name was John Selwyn.

He came out from the old country to teach school at the Glenn when I was a boy of 16.

He wasn't much like the usual run of derelicts who used to come out to Pei to teach school in them days.

Most of them were clever, drunken critters who taught the children the three RDS when they were sober and lambasted them when they wasn't.

But John Selwyn was a fine, handsome young fellow.

He boarded at my father's, and he and me were cronies, though he was ten years older than me.

We read and walked and talked to heap together.

He knew about all the poetry that was ever written, I reckon, and he used to quote it to me along shore in the evenings.

Dad thought it was an awful waste of time, but he sort of endured it, hoping it had put me off the notion of going to sea.

Well, nothing could do that.

Mother come of a race of sea going folk, and it was born in me.

But I love to hear John Reed and recite it's almost 60 years ago, but I could repeat yards of poetry I learned from him.

Nearly 60 years.

Captain Jim was silent for a space.

Gazing into the glowing fire in a quest of the bygones.

Then, with a sigh, he resumed his story.

I remember one spring evening I met him on the Sand Hills.

He looked sorter uplifted, just like you did Dr.

Blythe, when you brought Mistress Blythe in tonight.

I thought of him the minute I seen you, and he told me that he had a sweetheart back home and that she was coming out to him.

I wasn't more than half pleased, ordinary young lump of selfishness that I was.

I thought he wouldn't be as much my friend after she came, but I had enough decency not to let him see it.

He told me all about her.

Her name was Perseus Lee, and she would have come out with him if it hadn't been for her old uncle.

He was sick, and he'd look after her when her parents died and she wouldn't leave him.

And now he was dead and she was coming out to marry John Selwyn.

It wasn't no easy journey for a woman in them days.

There weren't no steamers.

You must recollect.

When do you expect her?

Says I.

She sails on the Royal William the 20 June, says he, and so she should be here by mid July.

I must set Carpenter Johnson to building me a home for her.

Her letter come today.

I know before I opened it that it had good news for me.

I saw her a few nights ago.

I didn't understand him, and then he explained, though I didn't understand it that much better.

He said he had a gift or a curse than was his words, Mistress Blythe.

A gift or a curse?

He didn't know which it was.

He said a great great grandmother of his had had it and they burned her for a witch on account of it.

He said queer spells.

Trances, I think was the name he give them come over him now and again.

Are there such things, doctor?

There are people who are certainly subject to trances, answered Gilbert.

The matter is more in line of psychical research than medical.

What were the trances of this John Sullivan like?

Like dreams, said the old doctor, skeptically.

He said he could see things in them, said Captain Gem slowly, mind you.

I'm telling you just what he said.

Things that were happening.

Things that were going to happen.

He said they were sometimes a comfort to him and sometimes a horror.

For nights before this, he'd been in.

One went into it while he was sitting looking at the fire, and he saw an old room he knew well in England and Perseus Lee in it, holding out her hands to him and looking glad and happy, so he knew he was going to hear good news of her.

A dream.

A dream.

Scoffed the old doctor.

Likely, likely, conceded Captain Jim.

That's what I said to him at the time.

It was a vast more comfortable to think so.

I didn't like the idea of him seeing things like that.

It was real uncanny.

No, says he, I didn't dream it.

But we won't talk of this again.

You won't be so much my friend if you think much about it.

I told him nothing could make me any less his friend.

But he just shook his head and says says he, lad, I know I've lost friends before because of this.

I don't blame them.

There are times when I feel hardly friendly to myself because of it.

Such a power has a bit of divinity in it, whether of good or an evil.

Divinity who shall say, and we mortals all shrink from too close contact with God or devil?

Them was his words.

I remembered them as if twas yesterday, though I didn't know just what he meant.

What do you suppose he did mean, Doctor?

I doubt if he knew what he meant himself, said Dr.

Dave Testoly.

I think I understand, whispered Anne.

She was listening in her old attitude of clasped lips and shining eyes.

Captain Jim treated himself to an admiring smile before he went on with his story.

Well, pretty soon all the Glenn and Forewinds people knew the schoolmaster's bride was coming, and they were all glad because they thought so much of him.

And everybody took an interest in his new house.

This house.

He picked this site for it because you could see the harbor and hear the sea from it.

He made the garden out there for his bride.

But he didn't plant the Lombardies.

Mrs.

Ned Russell planted them.

But there's a double row of rose bushes in the garden that the little girls who went to the Glenn school set out there for schoolmaster's bride.

He said they were pink for her cheeks and white for her brow and red for her lips.

He quoted poetry so much that he sort of got into the habit of talking it, too.

I reckon almost everybody sent him some little present to help out the furnishing of the house.

When the Russells came into it, they were well to do and furnished it real handsome, as you can see.

But the first furniture that went into it was plain enough.

This little house was rich in love, though.

The women sent in quilts and tablecloths and towels, and one med made a chest for her, and another a table, and so on.

Even blind old Aunt Margaret Boyd wove a little basket for her out of the sweet scented sandhill grass.

The schoolmaster's wife used it for years to keep her handkerchiefs in while at last everything was ready, even to the logs in the big fireplace ready for lighting.

It wasn't exactly this fireplace, though.

It wasn't the same place Miss Elizabeth had this put in when she made the house over 15 years ago.

It was a big old fashioned fireplace where you could have roasted in ox many's the time I've sat here and spun yarns, same as I'm doing tonight.

Again there was a silence while Captain Jim kept a passing twist with visitants.

Anne and Gilbert could not see the folks who had sat with him around that fireplace in the vanished years with mirth and bridal joy shining in eyes long since closed forever under churchyard sod or heaving leagues of sea.

Here on olden nights, children had tossed laughter lightly to and fro.

Here on winter evenings, friends had gathered dance and music and just had been here here youths and maidens had dreamed for Captain Jim, the little house was tenanted with shapes and treating remembrance.

It was the 1 July when the house was finished.

The schoolmaster began to count the days.

Then we used to see him walking along the shore and we'd say to each other, she'll soon be with him.

Now she was expected the middle of July, but she didn't come then.

Nobody felt anxious.

Vessels were often delayed for days and maybe weeks.

The Royal William was a week overdue, and then two, and then three.

And at last we began to be frightened.

And it got worse and worse.

Finally, I couldn't bear to look into John Selwyn's eyes.

You know Mistress Blithe.

Captain Jim lowered his voice.

I used to think that they looked just like what his old great great grandmother's must have been when they were burning her to death.

He never said much, but he taught school like a man in a dream and then hurried to the shore.

Many a night he walked there from dark to dawn.

People said he was losing his mind.

Everybody had given up hope.

The Royal William was eight weeks overdue.

It was the middle of September and the schoolmaster's bride hadn't come.

Never would come.

We thought.

There was a big storm then that lasted three days.

And on the evening after it died away, I went to the shore.

I found the schoolmaster there, leaning with his arms folded against a big rock, gazing out to sea.

I spoke to him, but he didn't answer.

His eyes seemed to be looking at something.

I couldn't see.

His face was set like a dead man's.

John, I called out.

Just like that.

Just like a frightened child.

Wake up.

Wake up.

That strange, awful look seemed to sort of fade out of his eyes.

He turned his head and looked at me.

I've never forgot his face.

Never will forget it till I ships for my last voyage.

All is well, lad, he says.

I've seen the Royal William coming around East Point.

She'll be here by dawn tomorrow night.

I shall sit with my bride by my own hearth fire.

Do you think he did see it?

Demanded Captain Jim abruptly.

God knows, said Gilbert softly.

Great love and great pain might compass we know not what marvel's.

I am sure he did see it, said Anne earnestly.

Fold a roll, said Dr dave.

But he spoke with less conviction than usual.

Because you know, said Captain Jim solemnly.

The Royal William came into Four Winds Harbor at daylight the next morning.

Every soul in the glen and along the shore was at the Old wharf to meet her.

The schoolmaster had been watching there all night.

How we cheered as she sailed up the Channel.

Captain Jim's eyes were shining.

They were looking at the FourWinds harbor of 60 years ago with a battered old ship sailing through the sunrise splendor.

And Perseus Lee was on board?

Asked Anne.

Yes, her and the Captain's wife.

They had an awful passage, storm after storm, and their provisions give out, too.

But there they were at last.

When Perseus Lee stepped onto the old wharf, john Selwyn took her in his arms and folk stopped cheering and begun to cry.

I cried myself though twas years, mind you, before I'd admit it.

Isn't it funny how ashamed boys are of tears?

Was persecution beautiful?

Asked Anne.

Well, I don't know that you'd call her beautiful, exactly.

I don't know, said Captain Jim slowly.

Somehow you never got so far along as to wonder if she was handsome or not.

It just didn't matter.

There was something so sweet and winsome about her that you had to love her, that was all.

But she was pleasant to look at.

Big, clear hazel eyes and heaps of glossy brown hair and an English skin.

John and her were married at our house that night at early candle lighting.

Everybody from far and near was there to see it, and we all brought them down here afterwards.

Mr.

Assellin lighted the fire and we went away and left them sitting here, just as John had seen in that vision of his.

A strange thing, a strange thing.

But I've seen a terrible lot of strange things in my time.

Captain Jim shook his head sagely.

It's a dear story, said Anne, feeling that for once she had got enough romance to satisfy her.

How long did they live here?

15 years.

I ran off to sea soon after they were married, like the young scalawag I was.

But every time I come back from a voyage, I'd head for here even before I went home and tell Mistress Selwyn all about it.

15 happy years.

They had a sort of talent for happiness then, too.

Some folks are like that.

If you've noticed.

They couldn't be unhappy for long, no matter what happened.

They quarreled once or twice for they was both high spirited.

But Mr.

Selman says to me once, says she laughing in that pretty way of hers.

I felt dreadful when John and I quarrelled, but underneath it all I was very happy because I had such a nice husband to quarrel with and make it up with.

Then they moved to Charlottetown and Ned Russell bought this house and brought his bride here.

They were a gay young pair, as I remember them.

Miss Elizabeth Russell was Alex sister.

She came to live with them a year or so later.

And she was a creature of mirth, too.

The walls of this house must be sort of soaked with laughing in good times.

You're the third bride I've seen.

Come here.

Mistress Blythe.

And the handsomest Captain Jim contrived to.

Give his sunflower compliment the delicacy of a violet, and Anne wore it proudly.

She was looking her best that night with the bridle rose on her cheeks.

And the love light in her eyes.

Even gruffled, Dr.

Dave gave her an approving glance and told his wife as they drove home together that that redheaded wife of the boys was something of a beauty.

Must be getting back to the light, announced Captain Jim.

I've enjoyed this evening something tremendous.

You must come often to see us, said Anne.

I wonder if you'd give that invitation if you knew how likely I'll be to accept it.

Captain Jim remarked whimsically which is another way of saying you wonder if I mean it, smiled Anne.

I do, cross my heart, as we used to say at school.

Then I'll come.

You're likely to be pestered with me at any hour and I'll be proud to have you drop down and visit me now and then, too.

Generally, I haven't anyone to talk to but the first mate, bless his sociable heart.

He's a mighty good listener and has forgotten more than any McAllister of them all ever knew.

But he isn't much of a conversationalist.

You're young and I'm old, but our souls are about the same age.

I reckon we both belong to the race that knows Joseph.

As Cornelia Bryant would say.

The race that knows Joseph?

Puzzled Anne.

Yes.

Cornelia divides all the folks in the world into two kinds the race that knows Joseph and the race that don't.

If a person sort of sees eye to eye with you and has pretty much the same ideas about things and the same taste in jokes, why, then he belongs to the race that knows Joseph.

Oh, I understand.

Exclaimed Anne, light breaking in upon her.

It's what I used to call and still call in quotation marks.

Kindred spirits.

Just so.

Just so agreed.

Captain jim.

Were it whatever it is when you come in tonight, Mistress Blithe, I says to myself, says I, yes, she's of the race that knows Joseph.

And mighty glad I was.

For if it wasn't so, we couldn't have any real satisfaction in each other's.

Company.

The race that knows Joseph is the salt of the earth.

I reckon the moon had just risen.

When Ann and Gilbert went to the door with their guests.

Fourwind's harbor was beginning to be a thing of dream and glamor and enchantment a spellbound haven where no tempest might ever raven the Lombardies down the lane, tall and somber as the priestly forms of some mystic band were tipped with silver.

Always liked Lombardies, said Captain Jim, waving a long arm at them.

They're the trees of princesses.

They're out of fashion now.

Folks complain that they die at the top and get ragged looking.

So they do.

So they do, if you don't risk your neck every spring climbing up a light ladder to trim them out.

I always did it for Miss Elizabeth, so her Lombardies never got out at elbows.

She was especially fond of them.

She liked their dignity and standoffishness.

They don't hobnob with every Tom, D*** and Harry.

If it's maples for company, Mistress Blythe, it's Lombardis for society.

What a beautiful night, said Mrs.

Dr.

Dave as she climbed into the doctor's buggy.

Most nights are beautiful, said Captain Jim.

But I low.

That moonlight over four winds makes me sort of wonder what's left for heaven.

The moon's a great friend of mine, Mistress Blithe.

I've loved her ever since I can remember.

When I was a little chap of eight.

I fell asleep in the garden one evening and wasn't missed.

I woke up along in the night and I was most scared to death.

What shadows and queer noises.

There was a dirt's move just crouched there, quaking.

Poor small might seemed as there wasn't anyone in the world but myself.

And it was mighty big.

Then all at once I saw the moon looking down at me through the apple boughs.

Just like an old friend.

I was comforted right off.

Got up and walked to the house as brave as a lion looking at her many's the night I've watched her from the deck of my vessel on seas far away from here.

Why don't you folks tell me to take in the slack of my jaw and go home?

The laughter of the good night died away.

Anne and Gilbert walked hand in hand around their garden.

The brook that ran across the corner dimpled pellucidly in the shadows of the birches.

The poppies along its banks were like.

Shallow cups of moonlight.

Flowers that had been planted by the hands of the schoolmaster's bride flung their sweetness on the shadowy air like the beauty and blessing of sacred yesterdays.

Anne paused in a gloom to gather a spray.

I love to smell flowers in the dark, she said.

You get hold of their soul then.

Oh, Gilbert, this little house is all I've dreamed it.

And I'm so glad that we're not the first to have kept bridal trist here.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time books.

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