Аня из Авонлеи
I. An Irate Neighbor
justexactlywhathewastobefamousforwasleftinconvenienthaziness,butAnnethoughtitwouldberathernicetohavehimacollegepresidentoraCanadianpremier...bowinglowoverherwrinkledhandandassuringherthatitwasshewhohadfirstkindledhisambition,andthatallhissuccessinlifewasduetothelessonsshehadinstilledsolongagoinAvonleaschool.Thispleasantvisionwasshatteredbyamostunpleasantinterruption.
AdemurelittleJerseycowcamescuttlingdownthelaneandfivesecondslaterMr.Harrisonarrived...if“arrived”benottoomildatermtodescribethemannerofhisirruptionintotheyard.
Hebouncedoverthefencewithoutwaitingtoopenthegate,andangrilyconfrontedastonishedAnne,whohadrisentoherfeetandstoodlookingathiminsomebewilderment.Mr.Harrisonwastheirnewrighthandneighborandshehadnevermethimbefore,althoughshehadseenhimonceortwice.
InearlyApril,beforeAnnehadcomehomefromQueen’s,Mr.RobertBell,whosefarmadjoinedtheCuthbertplaceonthewest,hadsoldoutandmovedtoCharlottetown.HisfarmhadbeenboughtbyacertainMr.J.A.Harrison,whosename,andthefactthathewasaNewBrunswickman,wereallthatwasknownabouthim.ButbeforehehadbeenamonthinAvonleahehadwonthereputationofbeinganoddperson...“acrank,”Mrs.RachelLyndesaid.Mrs.Rachelwasanoutspokenlady,asthoseofyouwhomayhavealreadymadeheracquaintancewillremember.Mr.Harrisonwascertainlydifferentfromotherpeople...andthatistheessentialcharacteristicofacrank,aseverybodyknows.
