Аня из Авонлеи
XVII. A Chapter of Accidents
AthalfpasttwelvetheAllansandMissStacycame.EverythingwasgoingwellbutAnnewasbeginningtofeelnervous.ItwassurelytimeforPriscillaandMrs.Morgantoarrive.ShemadefrequenttripstothegateandlookedasanxiouslydownthelaneaseverhernamesakeintheBluebeardstorypeeredfromthetowercasement.
“Supposetheydon’tcomeatall?”shesaidpiteously.
“Don’tsupposeit.Itwouldbetoomean,”saidDiana,who,however,wasbeginningtohaveuncomfortablemisgivingsonthesubject.
“Anne,”saidMarilla,comingoutfromtheparlor,“MissStacywantstoseeMissBarry’swillowwareplatter.”
Annehastenedtothesittingroomclosettogettheplatter.Shehad,inaccordancewithherpromisetoMrs.Lynde,writtentoMissBarryofCharlottetown,askingfortheloanofit.MissBarrywasanoldfriendofAnne’s,andshepromptlysenttheplatterout,withaletterexhortingAnnetobeverycarefulofit,forshehadpaidtwentydollarsforit.TheplatterhadserveditspurposeattheAidbazaarandhadthenbeenreturnedtotheGreenGablescloset,forAnnewouldnottrustanybodybutherselftotakeitbacktotown.
Shecarriedtheplattercarefullytothefrontdoorwhereherguestswereenjoyingthecoolbreezethatblewupfromthebrook.Itwasexaminedandadmired;then,justasAnnehadtakenitbackintoherownhands,aterrificcrashandclattersoundedfromthekitchenpantry.Marilla,Diana,andAnnefledout,thelatterpausingonlylongenoughtosetthepreciousplatterhastilydownonthesecondstepofthestairs.
