Аня из Авонлеи
XX. The Way It Often Happens
ShehadthefireonandtheteasteepingwhenDianareturned;thelatterworeHERmuslin,atleast,andcarriedacoveredplatterinherhand.
“Mothersentyouthis,”shesaid,liftingthecoveranddisplayinganicelycarvedandjointedchickentoAnne’sgreatfuleyes.
Thechickenwassupplementedbylightnewbread,excellentbutterandcheese,Marilla’sfruitcakeandadishofpreservedplums,floatingintheirgoldensyrupasincongealedsummersunshine.Therewasabigbowlfulofpink-and-whiteastersalso,bywayofdecoration;yetthespreadseemedverymeagerbesidetheelaborateoneformerlypreparedforMrs.Morgan.
Anne’shungryguests,however,didnotseemtothinkanythingwaslackingandtheyatethesimpleviandswithapparentenjoyment.ButafterthefirstfewmomentsAnnethoughtnomoreofwhatwasorwasnotonherbilloffare.Mrs.Morgan’sappearancemightbesomewhatdisappointing,asevenherloyalworshippershadbeenforcedtoadmittoeachother;butsheprovedtobeadelightfulconversationalist.Shehadtraveledextensivelyandwasanexcellentstoryteller.Shehadseenmuchofmenandwomen,andcrystalizedherexperiencesintowittylittlesentencesandepigramswhichmadeherhearersfeelasiftheywerelisteningtooneofthepeopleincleverbooks.Butunderallhersparkletherewasastronglyfeltundercurrentoftrue,womanlysympathyandkindheartednesswhichwonaffectionaseasilyasherbrilliancywonadmiration.Nordidshemonopolizetheconversation.
