Аня из Авонлеи
XVII. A Chapter of Accidents
“Now,wemustsetthetable,”saidAnne,inthetoneofapriestessabouttoperformsomesacredriteinhonorofadivinity.“We’llhaveabigvasefulofwildrosesinthecenterandonesingleroseinfrontofeverybody’splate—andaspecialbouquetofrosebudsonlybyMrs.Morgan’s—anallusionto‘TheRosebudGarden’youknow.”
Thetablewassetinthesittingroom,withMarilla’sfinestlinenandthebestchina,glass,andsilver.Youmaybeperfectlycertainthateveryarticleplacedonitwaspolishedorscouredtothehighestpossibleperfectionofglossandglitter.
Thenthegirlstrippedouttothekitchen,whichwasfilledwithappetizingodorsemanatingfromtheoven,wherethechickenswerealreadysizzlingsplendidly.AnnepreparedthepotatoesandDianagotthepeasandbeansready.Then,whileDianashutherselfintothepantrytocompoundthelettucesalad,Anne,whosecheekswerealreadybeginningtoglowcrimson,asmuchwithexcitementasfromtheheatofthefire,preparedthebreadsauceforthechickens,mincedheronionsforthesoup,andfinallywhippedthecreamforherlemonpies.
AndwhataboutDavyallthistime?Washeredeeminghispromisetobegood?Hewas,indeed.Tobesure,heinsistedonremaininginthekitchen,forhiscuriositywantedtoseeallthatwenton.Butashesatquietlyinacorner,busilyengagedinuntyingtheknotsinapieceofherringnethehadbroughthomefromhislasttriptotheshore,nobodyobjectedtothis.
