Аня из Авонлеи
II. Selling in Haste and Repenting at Leisure
SloanewasreadinganewspaperandshesaidtoMr.Sloane,‘Iseeherethatanotheroctogenarianhasjustdied.Whatisanoctogenarian,Peter?’AndMr.Sloanesaidhedidn’tknow,buttheymustbeverysicklycreatures,foryouneverheardtellofthembuttheyweredying.That’sthewaywithMartin’saunts.”
“Martin’sjustlikealltherestofthoseFrench,”saidMarillaindisgust.“Youcan’tdependonthemforaday.”MarillawaslookingoverAnne’sCarmodypurchaseswhensheheardashrillshriekinthebarnyard.AminutelaterAnnedashedintothekitchen,wringingherhands.
“AnneShirley,what’sthematternow?”
“Oh,Marilla,whatevershallIdo?Thisisterrible.Andit’sallmyfault.Oh,willIEVERlearntostopandreflectalittlebeforedoingrecklessthings?Mrs.LyndealwaystoldmeIwoulddosomethingdreadfulsomeday,andnowI’vedoneit!”
“Anne,youarethemostexasperatinggirl!WHATisityou’vedone?”
“SoldMr.Harrison’sJerseycow...theoneheboughtfromMr.Bell...toMr.Shearer!Dollyisoutinthemilkingpenthisveryminute.”
“AnneShirley,areyoudreaming?”
“IonlywishIwere.There’snodreamaboutit,thoughit’sverylikeanightmare.AndMr.Harrison’scowisinCharlottetownbythistime.Oh,Marilla,IthoughtI’dfinishedgettingintoscrapes,andhereIamintheveryworstoneIeverwasininmylife.WhatcanIdo?”
“Do?There’snothingtodo,child,exceptgoandseeMr.Harrisonaboutit.WecanofferhimourJerseyinexchangeifhedoesn’twanttotakethemoney
