Born in Spring

Story of the Month

It was one of the loveliest days of April, the day Annabelle was born...

I was ten years old and my brother Tom was eight... We worshipped her from the first... or not quite from the first, for curiosity was our first feeling... Tom said to me: Is this what a newborn baby looks like...? She's as red as a tomato, or as a rose... Is that because she was born with the roses?... And I answered, laughing: Perhaps!

Annabelle grew quickly and began to sit up... Her eyes were big and blue... and her hair blonde and curly.

She was our toy... our angelic child... and we were very proud of her... We hovered around her all day long, and if we heard her crying at night Tom would get up and fly up the stairs like the wind, and when calm and peace had settled again he would say, going back to his bed: She's all right now.

Annabelle began to walk and talk... and we were thrilled with delight at every step and every word she said... I think we wished she would stay a baby forever.

Then suddenly, one day, I found she had turned seventeen and I had turned twenty-seven.

At that time I was giving lessons at a local institute... and my brother Tom, who was now twenty-five, was a partner in the law firm my father had founded.

My brother was about to marry Claire, whom we all loved... and our house was making ready — though there was no need to make ready, since the celebration was at the bride's house; but Mother wanted to whitewash the house from top to bottom... and to put new curtains at all the windows, and so on.

Annabelle and the bride's sister were to be bridesmaids... It had been decided that I should be a bridesmaid, but my little sister Annabelle protested and said:

How dull to have Laurel for a bridesmaid — she's too old for the occasion.

And I said, very well, you shall be the bridesmaid... and she seemed born anew...

I tried not to notice that last sentence... she meant nothing by it.

Afterward my brother said: I wanted you for a bridesmaid... and Claire wanted you too... but you let her rule you and you give in to her... She is selfish.

And I cried out at him: Tom, you have always loved her! He said: Yes, she is very pretty, and she was sweet as a child; but now...

I said reproachfully: Tom, don't say that!

He shook his head and went on: Listen to me... Annabelle is seventeen, empty-headed and puffed up like a peacock, and you and I are both to blame for it — we spoiled her more than we should have... Remember Roger Garland.

I said: But she didn't know what she was doing.

He said: Oh yes, my little girl, she always knows what she is doing, and she may well draw a new ring around you.

The conversation pained me — especially the memory of Roger, though I had never confessed it even to myself... The young man had come home with my brother once after a game of golf... He was pleasant... a teacher at one of the institutes... and we sank for an hour into talk of books and studies... Then Annabelle came back from a tennis party wearing a white wool jersey that had been knitted for her... She went and printed a kiss on my father's brow and bent over his chair, with her tousled golden hair and her very big, very bright blue eyes... She had the sweetest winning ways.

Mother said, introducing her to the guest: This is our baby, Annabelle.

And Annabelle cried: That was long ago — next April I shall be seventeen.

I did not understand then why she was annoyed... but I understood afterward...

As he was leaving, Roger said: Shall we go together tomorrow, so you can show me the antiquities of your city...? And I said yes.

I had not fallen in love with him, for such things do not happen to me... but he was pleasant... and I liked his talk and his quietness.

I went with him to the citadel, and we spent an hour together that I enjoyed... When he brought me home he said: We'll go to other places, if you like.

Annabelle and my father were at home when I came in... Annabelle said: Where have you been?

I said: At the citadel, with Roger Garland.

And Mother broke in: I told you that, Annabelle.

Annabelle yawned and said: I'm tired and I'm going to bed — bring me a cup of tea.

Mother shot her a look, which she ignored... I carried the tea up to her, and she asked me:

In spring the miracle came — did spring purify Annabelle, so that she seemed born anew?

When are you going out with Roger again...?

I said: I don't know... when he asks me.

She said: Are you in love with him...!

I said: Don't be silly, my dear... I've only seen him twice.

I never suspected her at all... and when Roger came to take me out, I thought it was chance that had kept her at home... She had hardly heard the sound of the car before she ran out to it ahead of me and jumped in beside him, saying: I'm coming with you.

In this she seemed a child...

And off we went... She had adorned her neck with a necklace of spring jasmine blossoms... and all the while she kept giving me her loveliest smiles, as if she never stopped making me feel I was an old woman... or an aunt of hers... By the time we came home she had arranged with him to meet her at the tennis party the next day. I took it without caring, for I was not in love with Roger... though I had felt at ease with him and thought that something might happen... Annabelle quickly tired of Roger when she met another her own age... and I would not have thought of Roger again but for the remark Tom made when he said: You let her rule you.

And even if he was right — she was much younger than I... my little sister... It was hard for me to believe she had grown up, but she reminded me of it at every opportunity.

She had made a habit of borrowing my things... my shoes... my handbag... anything she wanted... And that evening she flew into a rage because I would not give her my white scarf... I told her: I need it tonight... And she shouted: What do you want with a white scarf? To make yourself look younger in it?... Then she went out in a temper.

My brother Tom, coming in, muttered: The wicked thing!... Then he took me by the shoulders and said: Don't give her the scarf...

I said: She's a child!

He said: She's a girl, and a jealous one — don't you understand?... Laurel, you are ten times more attractive than she is, and she knows it... You have your own wonderful personality... something Annabelle does not possess.

I laughed, protesting: No!

He said: Oh yes! You could have married ten years ago if you had wanted to... Now take care she doesn't snatch Jonathan away from you.

I said: Don't be stupid... I don't imagine she would.

Joe was Dr. Paul's partner, and he had been sent to see my father in one of the bouts of his illness...

I was at my father's side then... and after we had come to know each other better I said to him: You have a doctor's face... And he said: And what sort of face is a doctor's face?... I said: Like yours... calm... wise... thoughtful. He said: You almost make me believe I'm "Superman"... Then he took off his spectacles and said: And now, how do I look to you — is mine a face that could be loved...? I said: Without a doubt!

That was all that was ever said of love between us... There was no need to speak of love, for we knew it without words.

I was waiting for Tom's wedding... Two days before it my brother had arranged everything... He said to me: Annabelle will be kept busy with Charlie, the bride's brother... Tom was uneasy, and I felt some of his uneasiness without knowing its source.

The morning of the wedding was one of the loveliest dawnings of spring... And my

brother Tom appeared dressed in his finest clothes, looking elegant...

I said: Let me look at you... And he turned about the way a mannequin does.

I said: How handsome you are! I could marry you myself!

He laughed in his turn and said: And I say the same, Laurel... you are like a dream come true.

Then we heard Annabelle's voice saying: And I — am I not a dream come true...?

She rushed up wanting to kiss Tom, but he held her off, saying: Careful — I'm the bridegroom!... Then he added: Charlie will be your mark...

She said, grumbling: Charlie? I know him only too well.

My brother said: Then there's Jody, the bride's cousin and our best man.

She said: And I know him too... Then she cried: I want a perfect, heavenly man... a man I don't know well.

And my brother, going off to his car, said: All right, all right...

I followed him to the door and he whispered: Keep watch over Jonathan — she knows what plans you are laying!

I was not listening... I was thinking of the house without Tom... We had grown up together... we had always been friends, and I would miss him greatly... I embraced him... laid my cheek against his and said, trying to laugh: No kisses — the lipstick is there... Good luck to you, my dear... the happiest luck in the world, brother.

He said: And to you, my sweet darling... and he held me for a minute in which I understood that he would miss me too.

The religious ceremony ended and there were the usual kisses... I saw Annabelle fling herself at Jonathan and kiss him ardently... I heard her say to him: Oh Joe, I love you... and I saw those around her smile at the word... Then I saw Joe put her away from him, saying: Go and stand by the bride.

And she pleaded: Please, Joe — and smiled her angelic smiles... I felt she was a child, and yet I was glad when someone came and led her to the bride's side.

I glanced at Joe... Was I really afraid Annabelle might sway him...? Of course not... But I could not forget Roger... Only here it was different... I had let Roger go; but for Joe I would fight... But would I really fight? No — I would not lift a finger if he showed a liking for Annabelle... Pride stands hard in my heart... But why all these thoughts... why was I making a mountain out of a grain of sand...

I woke from my dreams and looked about me... Some were drinking toasts... some making speeches or reading telegrams... while the bride had gone up to change her clothes... But by the door there was a crowd gathering...

I heard Joe's voice saying: Stand back from her — let the air reach her...

The people drew back and I saw Annabelle... She was sitting on a low seat, her eyes closed and her face pale... one of her hands flung out to the side... slender as a sick child's.

I hurried to her... my little sister... my darling...

Joe said: She has fainted; she will come round in a minute.

And I heard her whisper: Take me home.

He said: Come now, you're not as tired as all that... But she shook her small head and said again: Take me home.

He turned to me and said: We had better take her.

And her weak, quavering voice said: There's no need for Laurel to come — Joe is enough... And two big tears rolled down from the closed eyes... And someone said: Poor little thing... she really does look ill.

Joe carried her... and it seemed to me that he was pressing her hard against his heart, and I said to myself reproachfully: You are too full of suspicions, Laurel... But my brother's voice whispered in my ear: Didn't I tell you...?

We took the bride and groom to their car and scattered rose petals over it, and off they drove... And all the while I was thinking... there is no one at home but those two.

Charles, the bride's brother, came up to me and said: You are alone and so am I, and it would please me if we walked together... Then he added: I take no great pleasure in the company of schoolgirls.

I felt relieved... A little schoolgirl — that is Annabelle... that is how people see her, while she wants to prove her existence and draw all eyes to herself... And Joe would come back now to say she was all right and that he had handed her over to Alice, the manager of our house... Alice had said earlier that she would not stay to the end of the celebration but would go home to prepare a few things... I looked around and did not see Alice, and I felt relieved.

But Joe did not come back... My mother came over to me and said: I'm tired — come, let's go home. And we went back.

Annabelle was in the sitting room with no trace of a faint upon her... She had changed her dress for one sprigged with little roses, and she looked lively, sweet, in perfect health.

Mother said: You never fainted once before? Annabelle said: Everything there was tiresome, and Joe said I must be careful in future.

Mother said: You're as strong as a horse, and you had no business upsetting the party and putting upon Joe like that...

And Annabelle answered dreamily... or like one unaware of my presence:

Joe! He was wonderful with me!

I asked her when Alice had come back... and she said, with a gleam in her eyes: She's only just come in.

I asked her again: But where is Joe?... And she answered like one who knows everything: He has gone to perform an operation at the hospital.

Mother said firmly: Enough — get up off that chair, for goodness' sake, and tell Alice to make me a cup of tea, and bring it with an Aspro tablet.

I went up to my room, threw my hat on the bed, and looked in the mirror... I fancied I looked tired... unattractive... I am twenty-seven and she is seventeen... In what way had Joe been wonderful with her... And then, why had I forgotten that he was going to the hospital, when he had told me so himself?

I heard people coming into our house — Mother had invited friends in after the bride and groom went away... I did not want to see people, or at least not to see Joe just now, with Annabelle hovering around him... I was sure now that Tom had been right about Annabelle, and I felt a sadness, because I had lost the sweet little creature I had loved.

I went to the kitchen and set about helping Alice... She protested, saying: Go and enjoy yourself... And I whispered within myself: Enjoy what?... And I went on working.

Suddenly the kitchen door opened and Joe came in, exclaiming: Oh, that seemed the longest operation I have ever performed in my life!... Then he came up to me, saying: How are things?... It's as if I hadn't seen you in a generation.

We heard Annabelle's voice calling: Joe, where are you?... He looked at me in vexation and hurried off to her.

Very well... let her have him... But he came back quickly... He said: What, are you going to stay in here the whole time?... And Alice answered: I've told her again and again to go... He said: Come along then, off with that "apron," and come inside.

I said, without looking at him: No — go to Annabelle...

I was pouring a cup of coffee, and I went on pouring without seeing that the saucer had overflowed.

He took the pot from my hand, saying gently: Look what you're doing... Then he added: Come out to the veranda — I have something to say to you...

On the veranda he held me close and said: My darling, you can't have thought I cared for your little sister.

And I murmured: And taking her away from the wedding... and carrying her like that... and staying with her all that time... and leaving me alone?

He patted my cheek and said: You simple girl — it was no real faint, just one of her performances... I am a doctor... She was on the verge of a fit of hysterics, and I know the signs well, so I thought it best she should be at home... And so I dropped her on Miss Alice, thanking God she was in the house when we reached it... And by then the hour of the operation had come, so I could not get back to you...

And because I had loved her, and love her still in spite of everything... and because I felt safe... sure... happy... I did not tell him the story Annabelle had invented.

And he said: Now let us talk sensibly... Seeing Tom and Claire today set me thinking of us... So when shall our wedding be...?

A yellow dress appeared on the veranda, and we heard her say: Joe, I've been looking for you everywhere.

And he said: Leave us be, Annabelle... our little sister... we are fixing the date of our wedding!

She stood speechless... and I saw a big tear — a real tear, perhaps — streaming down her cheeks... The sacred spring was surging all around us... its fragrance drifting up from the city to our nostrils on the veranda... Had spring purified Annabelle?... Had she been born anew today, having first been born in the spring, seventeen years ago? I believe so.

"From the English"