Аня из Авонлеи
XIV. A Danger Averted
Irving’sontheshoreroadtheprecedingeveningandhadcomehomebyashortcutwhichledherfirstoverthelow-lyingshorefields,andthenthroughthebeechwoodbelowRobertDickson’s,byalittlefootpaththatranouttothemainroadjustabovetheLakeofShiningWaters...knowntounimaginativepeopleasBarry’spond.
Twomenweresittingintheirbuggies,reinedofftothesideoftheroad,justattheentranceofthepath.OnewasJudsonParker;theotherwasJerryCorcoran,aNewbridgemanagainstwhom,asMrs.Lyndewouldhavetoldyouineloquentitalics,nothingshadyhadeverbeenPROVED.Hewasanagentforagriculturalimplementsandaprominentpersonageinmatterspolitical.Hehadafinger...somepeoplesaidALLhisfingers...ineverypoliticalpiethatwascooked;andasCanadawasontheeveofageneralelectionJerryCorcoranhadbeenabusymanformanyweeks,canvassingthecountyintheinterestsofhisparty’scandidate.JustasAnneemergedfromundertheoverhangingbeechboughssheheardCorcoransay,“Ifyou’llvoteforAmesbury,Parker...well,I’veanoteforthatpairofharrowsyou’vegotinthespring.Isupposeyouwouldn’tobjecttohavingitback,eh?”
“We...ll,sinceyouputitinthatway,”drawledJudsonwithagrin,“IreckonImightaswelldoit.Amanmustlookoutforhisowninterestsinthesehardtimes.”
BothsawAnneatthismomentandconversationabruptlyceased.Annebowedfrostilyandwalkedon,withherchinslightlymoretiltedthanusual.SoonJudsonParkerovertookher.
“Havealift,Anne?”heinquiredgenially.
