Аня из Авонлеи
XI. Facts and Fancies
“‘Yoursrespectfully,
“‘BarbaraShaw.’”
“WillieWhite’sbegan,
“‘RespectedMiss,
“‘IwanttotellyouaboutmyVeryBraveAunt.ShelivesinOntarioandonedayshewentouttothebarnandsawadogintheyard.Thedoghadnobusinesstheresoshegotastickandwhackedhimhardanddrovehimintothebarnandshuthimup.Prettysoonamancamelookingforaninaginarylion’(Query;—DidWilliemeanamenagerielion?)‘thathadrunawayfromacircus.AnditturnedoutthatthedogwasalionandmyVeryBraveAunthaddruvhimintothebarnwithastick.Itwasawondershewasnotetupbutshewasverybrave.EmersonGillissaysifshethoughtitwasadogshewasn’tanybraverthanifitreallywasadog.ButEmersonisjealousbecausehehasn’tgotaBraveAunthimself,nothingbutuncles.’
“‘Ihavekeptthebestforthelast.YoulaughatmebecauseIthinkPaulisageniusbutIamsurehisletterwillconvinceyouthatheisaveryuncommonchild.Paullivesawaydownneartheshorewithhisgrandmotherandhehasnoplaymates...norealplaymates.YourememberourSchoolManagementprofessortoldusthatwemustnothave‘favorites’amongourpupils,butIcan’thelplovingPaulIrvingthebestofallmine.Idon’tthinkitdoesanyharm,though,foreverybodylovesPaul,evenMrs.Lynde,whosaysshecouldneverhavebelievedshe’dgetsofondofaYankee.Theotherboysinschoollikehimtoo.Thereisnothingweakorgirlishabouthiminspiteofhisdreamsandfancies.Heisverymanlyandcanholdhisowninallgames.HefoughtSt.
