Аня из Авонлеи
XII. A Jonah Day
Anneherselffeltaprickofconsciencebutitonlyservedtoincreasehermentalirritation,andthesecondreaderclassrememberthatlessonyet,aswellastheunmercifulinflictionofarithmeticthatfollowed.JustasAnnewassnappingthesumsoutSt.ClairDonnellarrivedbreathlessly.
“Youarehalfanhourlate,St.Clair,”Anneremindedhimfrigidly.“Whyisthis?”
“Please,miss,Ihadtohelpmamakeapuddingfordinner‘causewe’reexpectingcompanyandClariceAlmira’ssick,”wasSt.Clair’sanswer,giveninaperfectlyrespectfulvoicebutneverthelessprovocativeofgreatmirthamonghismates.
“Takeyourseatandworkoutthesixproblemsonpageeighty-fourofyourarithmeticforpunishment,”saidAnne.St.Clairlookedratheramazedathertonebuthewentmeeklytohisdeskandtookouthisslate.ThenhestealthilypassedasmallparceltoJoeSloaneacrosstheaisle.Annecaughthimintheactandjumpedtoafatalconclusionaboutthatparcel.
OldMrs.HiramSloanehadlatelytakentomakingandselling“nutcakes”bywayofaddingtoherscantyincome.ThecakeswerespeciallytemptingtosmallboysandforseveralweeksAnnehadhadnotalittletroubleinregardtothem.OntheirwaytoschooltheboyswouldinvesttheirsparecashatMrs.Hiram’s,bringthecakesalongwiththemtoschool,and,ifpossible,eatthemandtreattheirmatesduringschoolhours.Annehadwarnedthemthatiftheybroughtanymorecakestoschooltheywouldbeconfiscated;andyetherewasSt.ClairDonnellcoollypassingaparcelofthem,wrappedupintheblueandwhitestripedpaperMrs.
