Аня из Авонлеи
XX. The Way It Often Happens
Bellwerenotquitesohighlyfigurativeinhispublicpetitions,especiallyinthehearingofsmallboyswhowerealways“wantingtoknow.”
Anne,leftaloneinherglory,workedwithawill.Thefloorwasswept,thebedsmade,thehensfed,themuslindresswashedandhungoutontheline.ThenAnnepreparedforthetransferoffeathers.Shemountedtothegarretanddonnedthefirstolddressthatcametohand...anavybluecashmereshehadwornatfourteen.Itwasdecidedlyontheshortsideandas“skimpy”asthenotablewinceyAnnehadwornupontheoccasionofherdebutatGreenGables;butatleastitwouldnotbemateriallyinjuredbydownandfeathers.AnnecompletedhertoiletbytyingabigredandwhitespottedhandkerchiefthathadbelongedtoMatthewoverherhead,and,thusaccoutred,betookherselftothekitchenchamber,whitherMarilla,beforeherdeparture,hadhelpedhercarrythefeatherbed.
AcrackedmirrorhungbythechamberwindowandinanunluckymomentAnnelookedintoit.Therewerethosesevenfrecklesonhernose,morerampantthanever,orsoitseemedintheglareoflightfromtheunshadedwindow.
“Oh,Iforgottorubthatlotiononlastnight,”shethought.“I’dbetterrundowntothepantryanddoitnow.”
Annehadalreadysufferedmanythingstryingtoremovethosefreckles.Ononeoccasiontheentireskinhadpeeledoffhernosebutthefrecklesremained.
