Anne of Green Gables 9 - Anne to theRescue
Anne had been doing her lessons at home. One morning, however, Anne came into the kitchen with her schoolbooks and announced, "Marilla, I'm going back to school. I miss spending time with my best friend Diana, so I must return."
Marilla hid her delight well. "I hope you'll behave yourself," was all she said.
In January the Canadian premier toured Canada, including Prince Edward Island. Most of Avonlea supported the premier's politics, and many people, including Marilla and Mrs. Lynde, went to hear him speak in Charlottetown. They planned to return to Green Gables the next day. So Anne and Matthew had the cheerful, warm kitchen of Green Gables to themselves.
"Matthew, did you ever study geometry?" asked Anne.
"Well, no, I didn't," Matthew said.
"I wish you had," Anne said, "because then you could sympathize. I'm terrible at it!"
Suddenly the kitchen door flung open, and Diana Barry ran in.
"What's the matter, Diana?" cried Anne. "Has your mother changed her mind? Can we be friends again?"
"Oh, Anne, come quickly!" Diana urged her. "My little sister, Minnie May, is awfully sick—she's got croup. Father and Mother are in town at the premier's meeting and there's nobody to get the doctor. The baby-sitter doesn't know what to do, and I'm so scared."
Matthew reached for his cap and went outside to get the horse.
"Matthew will ride to Carmody for the doctor," said Anne. She quickly put on her coat.
"Don't cry, Diana," she went on cheerfully. "I know exactly what to do for croup. Mrs. Hammond had twins three times, which gave me lots of experience because they all had croup regularly. I'll get the ipecac bottle in case you don't have any. Come on."
The two girls hurried to the Barrys' house through the fields, for the snow was too deep to go the shorter way. Although Anne was sincerely worried about Minnie May, she was delighted to be spending time with Diana again outside of school. She thought it was truly wonderful to walk through the dark snowy night with her best friend.
At the Barrys', Minnie May was feverish and restless, and her hoarse breathing rattled through the whole house. Anne promptly went to work. "Minnie May has croup all right. She's pretty bad, but I've seen worse. First we must have lots of hot water. Diana, fill up the kettle and put some wood in the stove. I'll undress Minnie May and give her some ipecac."
The little girl did not take kindly to the ipecac, but Anne kept trying. She gave Minnie the ipecac many times during the long anxious night, but Minnie got worse. Anne thought Minnie was sicker than the Hammond twins ever were. It was difficult for Minnie to breathe, and it seemed like she could choke to death. Anne, losing hope, gave her the last drop of ipecac.
In a few minutes, Minnie coughed up phlegm and began to get better right away. She soon fell asleep. It was three o'clock when Matthew finally arrived with the doctor. "I nearly gave up," Anne said to the doctor. "You can't imagine my relief when she finally seemed better."
The doctor nodded and went to check on Minnie. Anne was exhausted from no sleep, and she went home with Matthew.
In the morning Mr. and Mrs. Barry came home. The doctor, Diana, and Minnie were in the living room. The doctor told Mr. and Mrs. Barry, "That redheaded girl is a clever thing! I tell you, she saved that baby's life. For someone her age, she was smart and calm. It was wonderful. I've never seen anything like it."
Anne didn't wake up until the evening of the next day. She went to the kitchen where Marilla sat knitting.
"Anne," Marilla said, "Matthew told me about last night. It's very fortunate you knew what to do. I wouldn't have any idea myself, for I never saw a case of croup."
"Mrs. Barry was here this afternoon, Anne," Marilla continued. "She wanted to see you, but you were sleeping. She says you saved Minnie May's life, and she's sorry she acted the way she did in the affair with the wine. She hopes you'll forgive her and be good friends with Diana again. You can go over there this evening if you like. Now, Anne, don't fly into the air!"
The warning was needed because Anne instantly sprang to her feet. "Oh Marilla, can I go and see Diana right now without washing my dishes? I'll wash them when I come back. I can't do something so unromantic as dishwashing at this thrilling moment."
"Yes, yes, run along," said Marilla indulgently, smiling.
Anne ran through the orchard to the Barrys', not caring about the wind or cold. Mrs. Barry kissed her and cried, and said she was sorry and that she could never repay Anne. Anne was embarrassed but replied politely, "I forgive you, Mrs. Barry. I can tell you again that I did not mean to make Diana drunk."
Diana and Anne had a lovely afternoon. Diana showed Anne a new crochet stitch her aunt had taught her. Then Diana gave Anne a beautiful card with a wreath of roses on it and a verse of poetry: "If you love me as I love you, nothing but death can part us two."
At school Diana and Anne sat together again, and they were the happiest girls in Avonlea.
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