Аня с острова Принца Эдуарда

John Douglas Speaks at Last

           

           Oneafternoon,whenAnne’ssojourninValleyRoadwasdrawingtoaclose,AlecWardcamedrivingdownto“Wayside”inhothasteforJanet.

           “TheywantyouattheDouglasplacequick,”hesaid.“IreallybelieveoldMrs.Douglasisgoingtodieatlast,afterpretendingtodoitfortwentyyears.”

           Janetrantogetherhat.AnneaskedifMrs.Douglaswasworsethanusual.

           “She’snothalfasbad,”saidAlecsolemnly,“andthat’swhatmakesmethinkit’sserious.Othertimesshe’dbescreamingandthrowingherselfallovertheplace.Thistimeshe’slyingstillandmum.WhenMrs.Douglasismumsheisprettysick,youbet.”

           “Youdon’tlikeoldMrs.Douglas?”saidAnnecuriously.

           “IlikecatsasIScats.Idon’tlikecatsasiswomen,”wasAlec’scrypticreply.

           Janetcamehomeinthetwilight.

           “Mrs.Douglasisdead,”shesaidwearily.“ShediedsoonafterIgotthere.Shejustspoketomeonce‘Isupposeyou’llmarryJohnnow?’shesaid.Itcutmetotheheart,Anne.TothinkJohn’sownmotherthoughtIwouldn’tmarryhimbecauseofher!Icouldn’tsayawordeithertherewereotherwomenthere.IwasthankfulJohnhadgoneout.”

           Janetbegantocrydrearily.ButAnnebrewedherahotdrinkofgingerteatohercomforting.Tobesure,Annediscoveredlateronthatshehadusedwhitepepperinsteadofginger;butJanetneverknewthedifference.

           TheeveningafterthefuneralJanetandAnneweresittingonthefrontporchstepsatsunset.Thewindhadfallenasleepinthepinelandsandluridsheetsofheat-lightningflickeredacrossthenorthernskies.

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