Lavendar Lewis

Miss Lavendar Lewis is a woman who lives about 4 miles from Green Gables, in a quaint house called Echo Lodge.

Early life
Lavendar Lewis's early life is not explained in the Anne series, in any place.

Engagment with Steven Irving
Lavendar Lewis was a very pretty young woman in her day, with big brown eyes and a sweet, winsome smile. Tall Steven Irving, a young man who lived in the same area as her, fell in love with her. Lavendar was engaged with Steven, but the two quarreled—leaving a mark on their lives forever.

Life at Echo Lodge
Lavendar Lewis could not be expected to remain young forever. Aging over the years, she took in each of the Bowman girls, four in all, for help. When they reached sixteen, the girl would go to Boston, and Lavendar would take in the next.

Charlotta was the first girl. Apparently, Mrs. Bowman had a weakness for fancy names. The other three girls had very fancy names, but Lavendar called them all "Charlotta", in numerical order. At the time of Anne of Avonlea, "Charlotta the Fourth" (Leanora Bowman) was living with Lavendar.

Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, sometime in 1883, happened upon Echo Lodge, when they took a wrong turning in an attempt to go to tea. Fortunately, Lavendar had a table all set for tea for three—the fact which revealed to a delighted Anne that Lavendar "imagined things too".

It was a friendship from the start. Though she had grown old outside, Lavendar was a girl at heart. Calling them "Anne" and "Diana" at once, the threesome had amazing amounts of fun together.

Anne Shirley, teacher at the time, asked Lavendar if she could bring a pupil of hers, nine-year-old Paul Irving, to see the lady. Anne was sure they would get on well together—and she was right. After his visit, Paul went home and wrote his father about "Miss Lavendar".

Marriage with Steven Irving
Steven Irving, upon recieving his beloved son's letter, decided straightaway to go to Avonlea, to visit his son, mother, and possibly Lavendar. He did—and Anne asked Lavendar if he could come visit—and Lavendar said yes—and Steven visited—and asked Lavendar to marry him.

Yes was the answer Lavendar gave, and for a month there was a whirlwind of activity, in which Anne and Diana nearly lived at Echo Lodge. Charlotta the Fourth's large blue bows could be seen nearly everywhere at once, for the house must be cleaned and prepared, the bride's apparel to be reckoned with, and the pantry well stocked.

It was a happy wedding day in 1883, when Lavender Lewis and Steven Irving finally made up the quarrel of old.

Etymology
Lavendar was named so by her father, for when he was courting her mother, he slept between sheets that were scented of lavendar, and could think of nothing but her mother all night long.

Appearances

 * Anne of Avonlea (first appearance)
 * Anne of the Island
 * Anne's House of Dreams