Аня из Авонлеи
XVIII. An Adventure on the Tory Road
I’lldothebestIcanforyouinthewayofteabutIwarnyounottoexpectanythingbutbreadandbutterandsomecowcumbers.Marthalockedupallthecakeandcheeseandpreservesaforeshewent.Shealwaysdoes,becauseshesaysI’mtooextravagantwiththemifcompanycomes.”
Thegirlswerehungryenoughtodojusticetoanyfare,andtheyenjoyedMissSarah’sexcellentbreadandbutterand“cowcumbers”thoroughly.WhenthemealwasoverMissSarahsaid,
“Idon’tknowasImindsellingtheplatter.Butit’sworthtwenty-fivedollars.It’saveryoldplatter.”
DianagaveAnne’sfootagentlekickunderthetable,meaning,“Don’tagree—she’llletitgofortwentyifyouholdout.”ButAnnewasnotmindedtotakeanychancesinregardtothatpreciousplatter.Shepromptlyagreedtogivetwenty-fiveandMissSarahlookedasifshefeltsorryshehadn’taskedforthirty.
“Well,Iguessyoumayhaveit.IwantallthemoneyIcanscareupjustnow.Thefactis—”MissSarahthrewupherheadimportantly,withaproudflushonherthincheeks—“I’mgoingtobemarried—toLutherWallace.Hewantedmetwentyyearsago.Ilikedhimrealwellbuthewaspoorthenandfatherpackedhimoff.Is’poseIshouldn’thavelethimgosomeekbutIwastimidandfrightenedoffather.Besides,Ididn’tknowmenweresoskurse.”
Whenthegirlsweresafelyaway,DianadrivingandAnneholdingthecovetedplattercarefullyonherlap,thegreen,rain-freshenedsolitudesoftheToryRoadwereenlivenedbyripplesofgirlishlaughter
