Аня из Авонлеи
XX. The Way It Often Happens
OnthedoorstepwerestandingPriscillaGrant,goldenandfairinsilkattire,ashort,stoutgray-hairedladyinatweedsuit,andanotherlady,tallstately,wonderfullygowned,withabeautiful,highbredfaceandlarge,black-lashedvioleteyes,whomAnne“instinctivelyfelt,”asshewouldhavesaidinherearlierdays,tobeMrs.CharlotteE.Morgan.
InthedismayofthemomentonethoughtstoodoutfromtheconfusionofAnne’smindandshegraspedatitasattheproverbialstraw.AllMrs.Morgan’sheroineswerenotedfor“risingtotheoccasion.”Nomatterwhattheirtroubleswere,theyinvariablyrosetotheoccasionandshowedtheirsuperiorityoverallillsoftime,space,andquantity.AnnethereforefeltitwasHERdutytorisetotheoccasionandshedidit,soperfectlythatPriscillaafterwarddeclaredsheneveradmiredAnneShirleymorethanatthatmoment.Nomatterwhatheroutragedfeelingswereshedidnotshowthem.ShegreetedPriscillaandwasintroducedtohercompanionsascalmlyandcomposedlyasifshehadbeenarrayedinpurpleandfinelinen.Tobesure,itwassomewhatofashocktofindthattheladyshehadinstinctivelyfelttobeMrs.MorganwasnotMrs.Morganatall,butanunknownMrs.Pendexter,whilethestoutlittlegray-hairedwomanwasMrs.Morgan;butinthegreatershockthelesserlostitspower.Anneusheredhergueststothespareroomandthenceintotheparlor,wheresheleftthemwhileshehastenedouttohelpPriscillaunharnessherhorse.
