Аня из Зелёных Мезонинов

Chapter XXXVII. The Reaper Whose Name Is Death

           

           Whenthedoctorcamehesaidthatdeathhadbeeninstantaneousandprobablypainless,causedinalllikelihoodbysomesuddenshock.ThesecretoftheshockwasdiscoveredtobeinthepaperMatthewhadheldandwhichMartinhadbroughtfromtheofficethatmorning.ItcontainedanaccountofthefailureoftheAbbeyBank.

           ThenewsspreadquicklythroughAvonlea,andalldayfriendsandneighborsthrongedGreenGablesandcameandwentonerrandsofkindnessforthedeadandliving.Forthefirsttimeshy,quietMatthewCuthbertwasapersonofcentralimportance;thewhitemajestyofdeathhadfallenonhimandsethimapartasonecrowned.

           WhenthecalmnightcamesoftlydownoverGreenGablestheoldhousewashushedandtranquil.IntheparlorlayMatthewCuthbertinhiscoffin,hislonggrayhairframinghisplacidfaceonwhichtherewasalittlekindlysmileasifhebutslept,dreamingpleasantdreams.Therewereflowersabouthim—sweetold-fashionedflowerswhichhismotherhadplantedinthehomesteadgardeninherbridaldaysandforwhichMatthewhadalwayshadasecret,wordlesslove.Annehadgatheredthemandbroughtthemtohim,heranguished,tearlesseyesburninginherwhiteface.Itwasthelastthingshecoulddoforhim.

           TheBarrysandMrs.Lyndestayedwiththemthatnight.Diana,goingtotheeastgable,whereAnnewasstandingatherwindow,saidgently:

           “Annedear,wouldyouliketohavemesleepwithyoutonight?”

           “Thankyou,Diana.”Annelookedearnestlyintoherfriend’sface.“Ithinkyouwon’tmisunderstandmewhenIsayIwanttobealone.I’mnotafraid.

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