L M Montgomery Short Story: Charlotte's Ladies

Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Prince Edward Island on November 30, 1874. She achieved international fame in her lifetime, putting Prince Edward Island and Canada on the world literary stage. Best known for her "Anne of Green Gables" books, she was also a prolific writer of short stories and poetry.

This collection features those stories.

This episode is called Charlotte's Ladies.

Transcript

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph. It is time to relax and fully let go. There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go. Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you. And let all the worries of the day drift away. This is your time and your space. Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh. There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go. Just as soon as dinner was over at the asylum, Charlotte sped away to the gap in the fence, The northwest corner gap. There was a gap in the southeast corner too. The asylum fence was in a rather poor condition. But the southeast gap was interesting only after tea and it was never at any time quite as interesting as the northwest gap. Charlotte ran as fast as her legs could carry her for she did not want any of the other orphans to see. As a result, She liked the company of the other orphans and was a favourite with them but somehow she did not want them to know about the gaps. She was sure they would not understand. Charlotte had discovered the gaps only a week before. They had not been there in the autumn but the snow drifts had lain heavily against the fence all winter and one spring day when Charlotte was creeping through the shrubbery in the northwest corner in search of the little yellow daffodils that always grew there in spring, She found a delightful space where a board had fallen off when she could look out on a bit of woodsy road with a little footpath winding along by the fence under the widespread boughs of the asylum trees. Charlotte felt a wild impulse to slip out and run fast and run down that lovely, Sunny, Tempting, Fenceless road. But that would have been wrong for it was against the asylum rules and Charlotte, Though she hated most of the asylum rules with all her heart, Never disobeyed or broke them. So she subdued the vagrant longing with a sigh and sat down among the daffodils to peer wistfully out of the gap and feast her eyes on this glimpse of a world where there were no brink walls and no prim walks and never varying rules. Just as Charlotte watched, The pretty lady with the blue eyes came along the footpath. Charlotte had never seen her before and hadn't the slightest idea in the world who she was, But that was what she called her as soon as she saw her. The lady was so pretty with lovely blue eyes that were very sad, Although somehow, As you looked at them, You felt they ought to be laughing merry eyes instead. At least Charlotte thought so and wished at once she knew how to make them laugh. Besides, The lady had lovely golden hair and the most beautiful pink cheeks and Charlotte, Who had mouse-coloured hair and any number of freckles, Had an unbounded admiration for golden locks and rose-leaf complexions. The lady was dressed in black, Which Charlotte didn't like, Principally because the matron of the asylum wore black and Charlotte didn't exactly like the matron. When the pretty lady with the blue eyes had gone by, Charlotte drew a long breath. If I could pick out a mother, I'd pick out that one or one that looked just like her, She said. Nice things sometimes happen close together. Even in an orphan asylum. And that very evening, Charlotte discovered the south-east gap and found herself peering into the most beautiful garden you could imagine. A garden where daffodils and tulips grew in great ribbon-like beds. And there were hedges of white and purple lilacs and winding paths under blossoming trees. It was such a garden as Charlotte had pictured in happy dreams and never expected to see in real life. And yet here, It had been all the time divided from her only by a high, Bald fence. I wouldn't have supposed there could be such a lovely place so near an orphan asylum, Mused Charlotte. It's the very loveliest place I ever saw. I do wish I could go and walk in it. Well, I do declare, If there isn't a lady in it, Too. Sure enough, There was a lady helping an unruly young vine to run in the way it should go over a little harbour. Charlotte instantly named her the tall lady with the black eyes. She was not nearly so young or so pretty as the lady with the blue eyes, But she looked very kind and jolly. I'd like her for an aunt, Reflected Charlotte. Not for a mother. No, Not for a mother, But for an aunt. I know she'd make a perfect aunt. Just look at her cat. Charlotte looked at the cat with all her might and mane. She loved cats, But cats were not allowed in an orphan asylum. Although Charlotte sometimes wondered if there were no orphans, Kittens in the world which would be appropriate for such an institution. The tall lady's cat was so big and furry, With a splendid tail and elegant stripes. A very handsome cat, Charlotte called him mentally, Seeing the capitals as plainly as if they'd been printed out. Charlotte's fingers tingled to stroke his glossy coat, But she folded them sternly together. You know you can't, She said to herself reproachfully. So what is the use of wanting to, Charlotte Turner? You ought to be thankful just to see the garden and the very handsome cat. Charlotte watched the tall lady and the cat until they went away into a fine big house further up the garden. Then she sighed and went back through the cherry trees to the asylum playground where the other orphans were playing games. But somehow games had lost their flavour, Compared with those fascinating gaps. It did not take Charlotte long to discover the pretty lady always walked past the northwest gap about one o'clock every day. The tall lady was almost always in her garden at five in the afternoon, Accompanied by the very handsome cat pruning and trimming some of her flowers. Charlotte never missed being at the gaps at the proper times if she could possibly manage it, And her heart was full of dreams about her two ladies. But the other orphans thought all the fun had gone out of her and the matron noticed her absent-mindedness and dosed her with sulphur and molasses for it. Charlotte took the dose meekly as she took everything else. It was all part and parcel with being an orphan in an asylum. But if the pretty lady with the blue eyes was my mother, She wouldn't make me swallow such dreadful stuff, Sighed Charlotte. I don't believe even the tall lady with the black eyes would, Though perhaps she might. Aunts not being quite as good as mothers, Are they? Do you know, Said Maggie Brunt coming up to Charlotte at that moment, That Lizzie Parker's going to be adopted, A lady's going to adopt her. Oh, Cried Charlotte breathlessly, An adoption was always a wonderful event in the asylum. How splendid. Yes, Isn't it, Said Maggie, Enviously. She picked up Lizzie because she was pretty and had curls. I don't think it's fair. Charlotte sighed. No one will ever want to adopt me because I've got mousy hair and freckles, She said. But somebody may want to adopt you one day, Maggie. You have lovely black hair. But it isn't curly, Said Maggie forlornly, And the matron won't let me put it up in curled papers at night. I wish I was Lizzie. Charlotte shook her head. I don't. I'd love to be adopted, But I wouldn't really like to be anybody but myself, Even if I am homely. It's better to be yourself with mousy hair and freckles than somebody else who's ever so beautiful. But I do envy Lizzie, Though the matron said it's wicked to envy anyone. Envy of the fortunate Lizzie did not long possess Charlotte's mind, However, For that next day, A wonderful thing happened at noon hour by the North West Gap. Charlotte had always been very careful not to let the pretty lady see her, But today, After the pretty lady had gone past, She leaned out of the gap to watch her as far as she could. And at that very moment, The pretty lady looked back. She smiled right down at Charlotte, And just for a moment, Her eyes looked as Charlotte had always known they ought to look. But Charlotte was feeling rather frightened down in her heart. Are you thinking of running away, Said the pretty lady. Oh, What a sweet voice she had, Sweet and tender, Just like a mother's ought to be. No, Said Charlotte, Shaking her head gravely. I should like to run away, But it would be of no use because there's no place to run to. Why would you like to run away, Asked the pretty lady, Still smiling. Don't you like living here? Charlotte opened her big eyes very widely. It's an orphan asylum, She exclaimed. Nobody could like living in an orphan asylum. But of course orphans should be very thankful to have any place to live in, And I am thankful. But I'd be thankfuler still if the matron wouldn't make me take sulphur and molasses. If you had a little girl, Would you make her take sulphur and molasses? I didn't when I had a little girl, Said the pretty lady, Wistfully. Then her eyes were sad again. She died. Oh, I'm sorry, Said Charlotte. Did she have lovely golden hair and pink cheeks like yours? No, The pretty lady smiled again, Although it was rather a sad smile. She had mouse-coloured hair and freckles. And weren't you sorry? No, I was glad of it, Because it made her look like her father. I've always loved little girls with mouse-coloured hair and freckles. Well, I must hurry along now, I'm late, And schools have a dreadful habit of going in sharp on time. If you should happen to be here tomorrow, I'm going to stop and ask your name. Of course Charlotte was at the Gap the next day, And they had a lovely talk. In a week, They were the best of friends. Charlotte soon found out she could make the pretty lady's eyes look as they ought to look for a little while, And she spent all her spare time and lay awake at night devising speeches to make the pretty lady laugh. Then another wonderful thing happened. One evening when Charlotte went to the South East Gap, The tall lady with the black eyes was not in the garden, But the very handsome cat was, Sitting gravely under a bush and looking quite proud of himself for being a cat. Very handsome cat, Said Charlotte, Won't you come here and let me stroke you? And he did come, Just as if he understood English. Then Charlotte thought she would really sink into the ground, For the tall lady herself came round a lilac bush. Please mum, She stammered in an agony of embarrassment, I wasn't meaning to do any harm, I just wanted to pat him. Cats are not allowed in orphan asylums. I've always thought asylums weren't run on proper principles, Said the tall lady briskly. Bless your heart child, Don't look so scared, You're welcome to pat the cat all you like. Come in and I'll give you some flowers. Thank you, But I'm not allowed to go off the grounds, Said Charlotte firmly, I think I'd rather not have any flowers because the matron might want to know where I got them. If she found out about this gap, She'd close it up. I live in mortal dread for fear that would happen. It's very uncomfortable, You know, Living in mortal dread. At this, The tall lady laughed a very jolly laugh. I should think it would be, She agreed. Then they had a jolly talk and every evening after that, Charlotte went to the gap and stroked the very handsome cat and chatted to the tall lady. Did you always live alone, She asked her once. No, I had a sister living with me, But I don't want to talk about her. You'll oblige me, Charlotte, By not talking about her. I won't then, Agreed Charlotte. I can understand why people don't like to have their sisters talk about sometimes. Lily Mitchell has a big sister who was sent to jail for stealing. Of course, Lily doesn't like to talk about her. The tall lady laughed a little bitterly. My sister didn't steal. She married a man I detested, That's all. Did he drink? Asked Charlotte gravely. The matron's husband drank and that was why she left him and took to running an orphan asylum. I think I'd rather put up with a drunken husband than live in an orphan asylum. My sister's husband didn't drink, She said. The tall lady. But he was beneath her. I told her I'd never forgive her and I never shall. He's dead now. He died a year after she married and she's doing work for her living now. I dare say she doesn't find that very pleasant. She wasn't brought up to it. Here, Charlotte, This is a turnover for you. I made it on purpose. Now eat it and tell me if you don't think I'm a good cook. I'm dying for a compliment. I never get any now I've got old. It's a dismal thing to get old and have nobody to love you except a cat. I think it's just as bad to be young and have nobody to love you, Not even a cat, Sighed Charlotte, Enjoying the turnover nevertheless. I dare say it is, Agreed the tall lady, Looking as if she'd been struck by a new and rather startling idea. That night, As Charlotte lay in bed, She thought that she liked the tall lady with the black eyes ever so much. She had more fun with them, But she always felt nicer with a pretty lady with the blue eyes. I'm so glad her little girl had mouse-coloured hair, She said to herself. Then, The most wonderful thing of all happened, One day, A week later, The pretty lady asked her if she'd like to come and live with her. Are you in earnest? She asked in a whisper. Indeed I am, Said the pretty lady. I want you for my little girl. If you'd like to come, You shall. I'm poor, Charlotte. I'm dreadfully poor, But I can make my salary stretch far enough for two, And we'll love each other enough to cover up the thin spots. So will you come? Well, I should just think I will, Said Charlotte emphatically. I wish I was not dreaming. I do love you so much. It would be so delightful to be your little girl. You're not dreaming, Said the lady with blue eyes. Sweetheart, I will come tomorrow afternoon. I'll have the whole blessed day off because it's Saturday, And we'll see Maitre about it. We'll have a lovely time together. I only wish I discovered you long ago. Charlotte may have eaten and studied and played and kept rules for the rest of that day, But she had no recollection of it. She went about like a girl in a dream, And the matron concluded that something more than sulfur and molasses was needed. She decided to speak to the doctor about her. But before she had a chance, A lady came and told her she was to adopt Charlotte. Charlotte obeyed the summons to the matron's room in a tingle of excitement, But when she went in, She saw only the matron and the tall lady with the black eyes. Before Charlotte could look around for the pretty lady, The matron said, This lady, Miss Herbert, Wishes to adopt you. It's a splendid thing for you, And you ought to be very thankful, Little girl. Charlotte's head fairly well. She clasped her hand. And tears brimmed up in her eyes. I like the tall lady, She gasped. But I love the pretty lady, And I promised her I'd be her little girl. I can't break my promise. What on earth is the child talking about, Said the mystified matron. And just then, The maid showed in the pretty lady. But the pretty lady gave one glance at the tall lady in flushed red. The tall lady grew very pale. The matron felt uncomfortable. Everyone knew Miss Herbert and Mrs. Bond hadn't spoken to each other for years, Even if they were sisters. Mrs. Bond turned to the matron. I have come to ask permission to adopt this little girl, She said. I'm very sorry, Stammered the matron, But Miss Herbert has just asked, And I have consented. Charlotte gave a great gulp of disappointment. But the pretty lady suddenly wheeled round to face the tall lady with quivering lips and tearful eyes. Don't take her from me, Alma, She pleaded. She's so like my own baby, And I'm so lonely. Any other child would suit you as well. Not at all, Said the tall lady brusquely. Not at all. No other child will suit me at all. And may I ask what you intend to keep her on? I know your salary's barely enough for yourself. That is my concern, Said the pretty lady, A little proudly. The tall lady shrugged her shoulders. Just as independent as ever, Anna, I see. Well, Child, What do you say? Which of us will you come with? Remember, I have the cat on my side, And Anna can't make half as good turnovers as I can. I like you so much, Stammered Charlotte, And I wish I could live with you both. But since I can't, I must go with the pretty lady, Because I promised, And because I loved her first. And best, Queried the tall lady. And best, Admitted Charlotte, Proud to be truthful, Even at the risk of hurting the tall lady's feelings. But I do like you too, Next best, And you really don't need me as much as she does, For you have your very handsome cat. She hasn't anything. Nothing will satisfy the aching void. But a little girl with mouse-coloured hair and freckles, Said the tall lady, Stubbornly. No, Anna, I've got to have Charlotte. But I think that with her usual astuteness, She's already solved the problem for us, By saying she'd like to live with us both. Why can't she, Then? You just come back home, And we'll let bygones be bygones. We both have something to forgive, But I was an obstinate old fool, And I've known it for years, Though I never confessed it to anyone but the cat. The pretty lady then softened, Trembled and smiled. I've wanted so much to be friends with you again, She sobbed. I thought you'd never relent, And I'd been so lonely. There, There, Whispered the tall lady. Don't cry under the matron's eye. Wait till we get home. I may have some crying to do myself. Charlotte, Go and get your hat and come right on over with us. We can sign the necessary papers later on, But we must have you right off. The cat is waiting on the back porch, And there's a turnover calling on the pantry window that is just your size. Then Charlotte, The little girl with the mousy hair and many freckles, Said, I'm so happy, I think I might just burst into tears myself.