Аня из Авонлеи
XIX. Just a Happy Day
’Thatisn’tmyideaofconversation.”
“OfcourseI’llstaytotea,”saidAnnegaily.“Iwasdyingtobeasked.Mymouthhasbeenwateringforsomemoreofyourgrandma’sdeliciousshortbreadeversinceIhadteaherebefore.”
Paullookedverysober.
“Ifitdependedonme,teacher,”hesaid,standingbeforeAnnewithhishandsinhispocketsandhisbeautifullittlefaceshadowedwithsuddencare,“Youshouldhaveshortbreadwitharightgoodwill.ButitdependsonMaryJoe.IheardGrandmatellherbeforesheleftthatshewasn’ttogivemeanyshortcakebecauseitwastoorichforlittleboys’stomachs.ButmaybeMaryJoewillcutsomeforyouifIpromiseIwon’teatany.Letushopeforthebest.”
“Yes,letus,”agreedAnne,whomthischeerfulphilosophysuitedexactly,“andifMaryJoeproveshard-heartedandwon’tgivemeanyshortbreaditdoesn’tmatterintheleast,soyouarenottoworryoverthat.”
“You’resureyouwon’tmindifshedoesn’t?”saidPaulanxiously.
“Perfectlysure,dearheart.”
“ThenIwon’tworry,”saidPaul,withalongbreathofrelief,“especiallyasIreallythinkMaryJoewilllistentoreason.She’snotanaturallyunreasonableperson,butshehaslearnedbyexperiencethatitdoesn’tdotodisobeyGrandma’sorders.Grandmaisanexcellentwomanbutpeoplemustdoasshetellsthem.ShewasverymuchpleasedwithmethismorningbecauseImanagedatlasttoeatallmyplatefulofporridge.ItwasagreateffortbutIsucceeded.Grandmasaysshethinksshe’llmakeamanofmeyet.
