People

Irving, Paul

Irving, Stephen

Places

Irving, ...Mrs

Mrs. Irving is Stephen's mother and Paul's grandmother. Paul is sent to her by Stephen for a "spell" to live in Avonlea for a time. Marilla thinks that she will be "glad" for the child since she has been so lonesome since her husband died.
AoA:Chapter 1

Paul Irving

Paul is a new student when Anne begins teaching at the Avonlea school. Rachel Lynde regards him as a "strange pupil". Paul is coming from the States to live with his grandmother. His father is Stephen Irving. He is ten years old. On the first day of school, Anne gets a "queer thrill" at the sight of him and felt that he was definitely different from the rest of the Avonlea scholars. He has very dark blue eyes.

She knew Paul was ten but he looked no more than eight. He had the most beautiful little face she had ever seen in a child. . . features of exquisite delicacy and refinement, framed in a halo of chestnut curls. His mouth was delicious, being full without pouting, the crimson lips just softly touching and curving into finely finished little corners that narrowly escaped being dimpled. He had a sober, grave, meditative expression, as if his spirit was much older than his body; but when Anne smiled softly at him it vanished in a sudden answering smile, which seemed an illumination of his whole being, as if some lamp had suddenly kindled into flame inside of him, irradiating him from top to toe. Best of all, it was involuntary, born of no external effort or motive, but simply the outflashing of a hidden personality, rare and fine and sweet.

AoA:Chapters 1, 5, 7-8, 10

Stephen Irving

Stephen is Paul Irving's father who quarrelled with Lavendar Lewis at one point, and the two never got married. "Stephen went off to the States and went into business with his uncle a nd married a Yankee. He's never been home since, though his mother has been up to see him once or twice. His wife died two years ago and he's sending the boy home to his mother for a spell" according to Rachel Lynde. Marilla regarded him as one of the nicest boys but proud.
AoA:Chapter 1

Idlewild

Anne and Diana's playhouse where in a corner of William Bell's land grow a circle of birch trees. He cut them down during the spring one year.
AoGG:Chapters 13-14, 20-21, 28

Copyright © 1995-1999 Thomas P. Grelinger. All Rights Reserved.