Аня из Авонлеи
XVI. The Substance of Things Hoped For
’Miltyknewtherewasn’tanythingbutthegarretovertheceiling,sothat’showHEfoundout.Andhe’sbeenawfulscaredtogotohisUncleSimon’seversince.”
AnnetookDavyonherkneeanddidherbesttostraightenoutthistheologicaltanglealso.ShewasmuchbetterfittedforthetaskthanMarilla,forsherememberedherownchildhoodandhadaninstinctiveunderstandingofthecuriousideasthatseven-year-oldssometimesgetaboutmattersthatare,ofcourse,veryplainandsimpletogrownuppeople.ShehadjustsucceededinconvincingDavythatheavenwasNOTinSimonFletcher’sgarretwhenMarillacameinfromthegarden,wheresheandDorahadbeenpickingpeas.Dorawasanindustriouslittlesoulandneverhappierthanwhen“helping”invarioussmalltaskssuitedtoherchubbyfingers.Shefedchickens,pickedupchips,wipeddishes,andranerrandsgalore.Shewasneat,faithfulandobservant;sheneverhadtobetoldhowtodoathingtwiceandneverforgotanyofherlittleduties.Davy,ontheotherhand,wasratherheedlessandforgetful;buthehadthebornknackofwinninglove,andevenyetAnneandMarillalikedhimthebetter.
WhileDoraproudlyshelledthepeasandDavymadeboatsofthepods,withmastsofmatchesandsailsofpaper,AnnetoldMarillaaboutthewonderfulcontentsofherletter.
“Oh,Marilla,whatdoyouthink?I’vehadaletterfromPriscillaandshesaysthatMrs.MorganisontheIsland,andthatifitisfineThursdaytheyaregoingtodriveuptoAvonleaandwillreachhereabouttwelve.
