Аня из Авонлеи
XII. A Jonah Day
”
“I’mgladtohearit,”saidMarillawithdecision.“It’swhatyoushouldhavedonelongago.”
“Oh,no,no,Marilla.AndIdon’tseehowIcaneverlookthosechildreninthefaceagain.IfeelthatIhavehumiliatedmyselftotheverydust.Youdon’tknowhowcrossandhatefulandhorridIwas.Ican’tforgettheexpressioninPaulIrving’seyes...helookedsosurprisedanddisappointed.Oh,Marilla,IHAVEtriedsohardtobepatientandtowinAnthony’sliking...andnowithasallgonefornothing.”
Marillapassedherhardwork-wornhandoverthegirl’sglossy,tumbledhairwithawonderfultenderness.WhenAnne’ssobsgrewquietershesaid,verygentlyforher,
“Youtakethingstoomuchtoheart,Anne.Weallmakemistakes...butpeopleforgetthem.AndJonahdayscometoeverybody.AsforAnthonyPye,whyneedyoucareifhedoesdislikeyou?Heistheonlyone.”
“Ican’thelpit.Iwanteverybodytolovemeandithurtsmesowhenanybodydoesn’t.AndAnthonyneverwillnow.Oh,Ijustmadeanidiotofmyselftoday,Marilla.I’lltellyouthewholestory.”
Marillalistenedtothewholestory,andifshesmiledatcertainpartsofitAnneneverknew.Whenthetalewasendedshesaidbriskly,
“Well,nevermind.Thisday’sdoneandthere’sanewonecomingtomorrow,withnomistakesinityet,asyouusedtosayyourself.Justcomedownstairsandhaveyoursupper.You’llseeifagoodcupofteaandthoseplumpuffsImadetodaywon’theartenyouup.
