“Mamie follows Annie as if she’s the queen bee. And Nellie is devoted to Clemmie,” Mollie said.
“You’re the spoiled one, Mamie Simpson,” Nellie said. “Always showing off.”
Just as Mamie was about to rebut, Miss Gordon rang the school bell and Clemmie and Nellie skirted past her and went inside.
“I’m relieved for once we aren’t involved,” Maud said, as they went in.
“But you both are,” Annie said, grazing past them and blocking the door. “You and Amanda saw the whole thing and can be called upon to defend me if necessary.”
“And why would we even help you?” Mollie said.
“Because,” Annie said, “Clemmie has said some pretty horrible things about Maud and Nate.” She turned to Mollie. “I know you’ll defend Maud. Isn’t that what the two of you vowed last spring?” Annie and Mamie had been there when Maud and Mollie had made their vows of friendship.
“What did Clemmie say about Nate and me?” Maud asked.
“Oh, you know what it’s about.” And she went inside.
Maud leaned her head against Mollie’s shoulder. “That was uncalled for,” Mollie said, “bringing up our friendship vow.”
“Do you know what she’s talking about?” Maud asked.
“No.” Mollie smoothed Maud’s hair and kissed the top of her head. “But I suspect she’s just trying to cause trouble.”
CHAPTER SIX
Maud lay on her stomach on her bed with Nate’s copy of Undine propped up in front of her, her feet against her pillow. Dinner had been fairly quiet—Maud had been relieved that her grandparents had only asked how her day went, and then went on to discuss who came by the post office that day, and the goings-on.
Back in her room, she had changed into a more comfortable green skirt and white waist, enjoying the solitude. She was sure Nate was going to ask her about Undine tomorrow. Truth was, she wasn’t reading—she was thinking about how warm his fingers were when she had given him the book today. She had recorded the entire episode in her journal, which now lay open beside her.
Maud traced the etching of the majestic merwoman on Undine’s front cover, her flowing hair caressing the seaweed, her strong arms above her head, ready to take command of her life. Maud loved how the paper caressed her fingers, the curve of the spine, and the musty smell of a well-read and well-loved book. There was also something delicious in sharing a book with Nate. She was enjoying the little breadcrumbs he left in the margins and noting the passages he underlined. It was as if they were having a secret conversation.
As she read, she smiled at how Nate had underlined, “It was in sooth caused by a gallant knight, bravely apparelled, who issued forth from the shadow of the wood and came riding towards the cottage.”
Does Nate think himself a true and noble knight?
As she turned the page, a piece of paper slipped out of the book onto the bed. She opened it:
Dear Polly,
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this book.
Perhaps we will find a moment to discuss it after organ lessons one afternoon?
Sincerely,
Snip
Maud had started taking organ lessons with Nate’s mother, Mrs. Spurr, last spring. Those had obviously stopped when she went to her Aunt Emily and Uncle John Malcolm’s in Malpeque. She was hoping to start again, but she had to convince her grandparents she was a worthy investment.
She would have to worry about it later, though, because just then, Pensie knocked on her bedroom door for their nightly walk to the shore, wearing her auburn hair down with a pretty bow to tie it back. Maud leaped up, dropping the book on the floor, and then quickly threw it on the bed beside her journal.
About twenty minutes later, Pensie and Maud were standing on the beach in front of the Gulf of St. Lawrence near their favorite spot, the Hole in the Wall, a carved piece of sandstone that years of erosion had made into a large hole one could walk through. The way the tide was coming in tonight, it was dangerous—it was slippery and one could be carried into the Gulf—but when the tide was out, Maud would walk through it easily, imagining it was a portal to another world.
Maud regaled Pensie with almost everything that had happened at school. A few times she considered telling her about the secret book exchange with Nate, but she wasn’t up to Pensie’s lectures on propriety between Baptists and Presbyterians, so she focused on the argument between Clemmie and Annie.
Pensie gently squeezed Maud’s arm and leaned into her. “It all sounds rather silly.” She sighed. “I’m glad I’m through with school. Mother needs me.”
“Aren’t you bored being home all day?”
“No, I have Fauntleroy and Topsy to keep me entertained,” Pensie said, referring to her cats. “Plus, as I said, Mother needs my help around the house, now that my sisters are married.”
“If those cats could talk,” Maud said, thinking about how only a year ago she and Pensie would play together in the old barn with the kittens sharing their darkest secrets.
After a few moments, Pensie said, “What about Nate Spurr?”
Maud pushed Pensie away and stared out to the Gulf. She didn’t want to talk about Nate.
“Oh, come now, Maudie. You promised me you would tell me what was in that letter.”
Maud forced a laugh. “Well.” She faced her friend. “He goes by ‘Lockhart’ now.”
“Does he?” Pensie’s brown eyes widened. “What possessed him to take his father’s—may he rest in peace—name?”
Maud shrugged. She honestly didn’t know. Maybe he wanted to be closer to him. She could understand that.
The two friends were silent, watching the sun set against the Gulf.
“What did the letter say?” Pensie said after a while.
“He was welcoming me back to school.”
“I don’t believe it was just that, Maudie.” Pensie took hold of both of Maud’s hands. “He wants to court you!”
She didn’t like what Pensie was suggesting. She and Nate were just friends, so she said, “Like Quill Rolling wants to court you?”
Pensie let go of Maud’s hands and turned away. “We aren’t talking about me.”
Maud immediately regretted her words. She couldn’t bear it when Pensie was upset with her. Maud took one of Pensie’s hands and kissed it. “Forgive me. It-it is…ridiculous, that’s all.”
Pensie grasped Maud’s hand and kissed it back. “My sister Lillie says I should start thinking about such things, and so should you. You must be careful about how you lead boys on because they want one thing.” Pensie paused. “Marriage. Men like Nate are looking for a wife.”
“Nate is not looking for a wife.” Maud guffawed. “He’s only fourteen! And even if he were, it wouldn’t be me. As I said, he and I are good friends, nothing more. Besides, he’s the Baptist minister’s stepson. Grandfather wouldn’t allow it. Next to marrying a cousin, marrying a Baptist is like going to the devil.”