Miss Gordon must have recognized this because she said, “Coming from your grandfather, this certainly feels more personal.”
Maud began to understand what Miss Gordon was saying. It was more personal because she had heard Grandfather tell it so many times. “Is it similar to Louisa May Alcott?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“I read that Little Women was inspired by Alcott’s experiences during the Civil War,” Maud said. “And living with her sisters.”
“Yes, very much like that,” Miss Gordon said.
Maud thought, again, of the last two lines of the poem she had just read:
And write upon its shining scroll
A woman’s humble name.
“Was there anything else, Maud?” Miss Gordon said.
“I wondered…it isn’t possible right now…but I was thinking of Prince of Wales College. In Charlottetown.”
Miss Gordon smiled. “I think you could do quite well at college. And we are heading into an age where a girl needs a profession.”
“Such as being a teacher,” Maud said.
“Being a teacher would be a practical option,” Miss Gordon said.
The light was fading. It was time to go home.
“You have to decide, Maud, how you want to live your life,” Miss Gordon said, standing up and packing away her things. “Not so long ago, women were forbidden to teach. It was believed that we weren’t suited to the profession, but slowly we are proving those people wrong. And a woman writer? There are some who don’t think women can write.” She paused. “You have chosen a difficult path, Maud. But I believe you will persevere. And I will help you any way I can.”
It was so rare for anyone to encourage her that Maud asked, “Why?”
Miss Gordon smiled gently. “Each student should have a teacher who sees their potential, and I don’t think you have been given that opportunity. You’re cleverer than most of the students here. And I’m aware of what happened with my predecessor.” Maud stared at her shoes. “Don’t worry. I don’t allow others to cloud my judgment of people.”
“The Montreal Witness contest appears to be the perfect opportunity,” Maud said, more to herself than to her teacher.
“I agree,” Miss Gordon said.
Maud said goodbye to Miss Gordon and took the long way home through Lover’s Lane, as there was much to think about, plans to be made. When she got home, Maud burned “The Queen’s Betrayal” and started on a new version of “On Cape LeForce.” Then, she copied out “The Fringed Gentian” onto a letter bill and glued it into the front of one her workbooks. It would be a constant reminder of a far-off goal: perhaps, one day, if she was vigilant, she would reach those sublime heights.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The following Saturday morning a number of Maud’s classmates—including Nate, Jack, Clemmie, Nellie, and Annie—met to help decorate Cavendish Hall for the evening literary. But as they worked, they were dismayed to hear the sound of heavy rain hitting the windowpanes. Would it keep people away?
Maud and Mollie sat at a table making a bouquet of leaves that echoed the rich colors of a typical Island autumn. Each had tucked one in their hair—Mollie, orange; Maud, red. Maud noted how the orange highlighted the blond in her best friend’s curls. They had already worked on some pretty bunting made from leftover cloth Miss Gordon had collected. Even if it was gray and stormy outside, it would be colorful inside.
“I don’t know why we’re bothering,” Clemmie said, pinning some of the bunting Maud and Mollie had worked on to the wall. “People are bound to stay home. I know that’s where I would be—if I didn’t have to be here.”
“What kind of attitude is that?” Miss Gordon said, looking up from her checklist. “People have worked hard, and it is only right that their community should show its support.”
Clemmie and Nellie exchanged a look but silently went back to work.
Mollie gave Maud a reassuring smile. Maud was trying not to show it, but she was nervous. Tonight would be the first time she’d ever had to recite something in front of a real audience. The whole village, including her grandparents, was coming. Pensie had stopped by last evening for their nightly walk to give Maud some ribbon for good luck. “Perhaps you can pin it to your hat,” she suggested.
The jitters over speaking certainly helped distract Maud from the other thing she was nervous about—walking home with Nate. She just had to be sure to wait until after her grandparents had left, which wouldn’t be a problem because they tended to leave right away. Thank goodness Jack and Mollie were going to be there. On the way over, Mollie couldn’t stop talking about how she hoped that Jack would hold her hand; he had yet to make that particular move. Maud hadn’t told Mollie about holding Nate’s hand. It felt too private to tell anyone just yet.
Nate and Jack were setting up the wooden chairs on the other side of the hall. Maud couldn’t help but notice how Nate’s navy blue shirt fit nicely around his shoulders, and how wide his shoulders were becoming. She fumbled with one of the bouquet leaves, the stem getting stuck in her ring. Avoiding Mollie’s questioning look, Maud brought the subject back to Clemmie and Annie.
“Did I see Annie and Clemmie fighting this morning?” Maud said.
Mollie nodded. “Yes, it appears they are at odds…again.”
“Those girls need to be careful to keep their quarrel to themselves,” Maud said. “Miss Gordon is in no mood today.”
“She is definitely like my father on planting day.”
“I don’t blame her,” Maud said. “She’s new and wants to show the trustees they didn’t make a mistake.”
“She’s infinitely superior to you-know-who,” Mollie said.
A chair toppled over and someone screamed. Maud and Mollie jumped up to see Clemmie on the ground, holding her ankle, with Annie triumphantly standing over her.
“Yes, the truce is definitely over,” Mollie muttered.
“Miss Gordon!” Clemmie cried. “Annie pushed me off the chair.” She sat on a chair, rubbing her ankle. Nellie dutifully stood beside her.
“I did no such thing, Miss Gordon,” Annie said. “She had refused to move and I was trying to put up the banner as you requested.”
Miss Gordon strode over. “I don’t know what is going on between you girls, but I’ve been watching you and—don’t try to deny it, Clemmie and Annie—I had hoped you would solve this yourselves like true ladies, but clearly I was wrong about your characters—”
“But—” Clemmie said.