Аня из Авонлеи
II. Selling in Haste and Repenting at Leisure
Andwhenspringcomeswe’llhaveaflower-bedmadeinthemiddleofitandplantgeraniums.”
“Yes;onlywe’llhavetodevisesomewayofgettingoldMrs.HiramSloanetokeephercowofftheroad,orshe’lleatourgeraniumsup,”laughedDiana.“Ibegintoseewhatyoumeanbyeducatingpublicsentiment,Anne.There’stheoldBoulterhousenow.Didyoueverseesucharookery?Andperchedrightclosetotheroadtoo.Anoldhousewithitswindowsgonealwaysmakesmethinkofsomethingdeadwithitseyespickedout.”
“Ithinkanold,desertedhouseissuchasadsight,”saidAnnedreamily.“Italwaysseemstometobethinkingaboutitspastandmourningforitsold-timejoys.Marillasaysthatalargefamilywasraisedinthatoldhouselongago,andthatitwasarealprettyplace,withalovelygardenandrosesclimbingalloverit.Itwasfulloflittlechildrenandlaughterandsongs;andnowitisempty,andnothingeverwandersthroughitbutthewind.Howlonelyandsorrowfulitmustfeel!Perhapstheyallcomebackonmoonlitnights...theghostsofthelittlechildrenoflongagoandtherosesandthesongs...andforalittlewhiletheoldhousecandreamitisyoungandjoyousagain.”
Dianashookherhead.
“Ineverimaginethingslikethataboutplacesnow,Anne.Don’tyourememberhowcrossmotherandMarillawerewhenweimaginedghostsintotheHauntedWood?TothisdayIcan’tgothroughthatbushcomfortablyafterdark;andifIbeganimaginingsuchthingsabouttheoldBoulterhouseI’dbefrightenedtopassittoo.Besides,thosechildrenaren’tdead.
