Аня с острова Принца Эдуарда

Adjusted Relationships

           Suddenly,faintbutdistinct,soundedanunmistakablemewunderthebox.

           “Heheisn’tdead,”gaspedAnne,sittingblanklydownonthekitchendoorstep.

           “Hemustbe,”saidPhilincredulously.

           Anothertinymewprovedthathewasn’t.Thetwogirlsstaredateachother.

           “Whatwillwedo?”questionedAnne.

           “Whyintheworlddon’tyoucome?”demandedStella,appearinginthedoorway.“We’vegotthegraveready.‘Whatsilentstillandsilentall?’”shequotedteasingly.

           “‘Oh,no,thevoicesofthedeadSoundlikethedistanttorrent’sfall,’”promptlycounter-quotedAnne,pointingsolemnlytothebox.

           Aburstoflaughterbrokethetension.

           “Wemustleavehimheretillmorning,”saidPhil,replacingthestone.“Hehasn’tmewedforfiveminutes.Perhapsthemewsweheardwerehisdyinggroan.Orperhapswemerelyimaginedthem,underthestrainofourguiltyconsciences.”

           But,whentheboxwasliftedinthemorning,RustyboundedatonegayleaptoAnne’sshoulderwherehebegantolickherfaceaffectionately.Neverwasthereacatmoredecidedlyalive.

           “Here’saknotholeinthebox,”groanedPhil.“Ineversawit.That’swhyhedidn’tdie.Now,we’vegottodoitalloveragain.”

           “No,wehaven’t,”declaredAnnesuddenly.“Rustyisn’tgoingtobekilledagain.He’smycatandyou’vejustgottomakethebestofit.”

           “Oh,well,ifyou’llsettlewithAuntJimsieandtheSarah-cat,”saidStella,withtheairofonewashingherhandsofthewholeaffair.

           FromthattimeRustywasoneofthefamily.

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