Аня из Авонлеи
XXI. Sweet Miss Lavendar
Miltysaidhewasn’tscaredofmebuthe’djustassooncallitsomebodyelseto‘bligeme,soherubbedoutAnne’snameandprintedBarbaraShaw’sunderit.Miltydoesn’tlikeBarbara‘causeshecallshimasweetlittleboyandonceshepattedhimonhishead.”
Dorasaidprimlythatshelikedschool;butshewasveryquiet,evenforher;andwhenattwilightMarillabadehergoupstairstobedshehesitatedandbegantocry.
“I’m...I’mfrightened,”shesobbed.“I...Idon’twanttogoupstairsaloneinthedark.”
“Whatnotionhaveyougotintoyourheadnow?”demandedMarilla.“I’msureyou’vegonetobedaloneallsummerandneverbeenfrightenedbefore.”
Dorastillcontinuedtocry,soAnnepickedherup,cuddledhersympathetically,andwhispered,
“TellAnneallaboutit,sweetheart.Whatareyoufrightenedof?”
“Of...ofMirabelCotton’suncle,”sobbedDora.“MirabelCottontoldmeallaboutherfamilytodayinschool.Nearlyeverybodyinherfamilyhasdied...allhergrandfathersandgrandmothersandeversomanyunclesandaunts.Theyhaveahabitofdying,Mirabelsays.Mirabel’sawfulproudofhavingsomanydeadrelations,andshetoldmewhattheyalldiedof,andwhattheysaid,andhowtheylookedintheircoffins.AndMirabelsaysoneofheruncleswasseenwalkingaroundthehouseafterhewasburied.Hermothersawhim.Idon’tmindtherestsomuchbutIcan’thelpthinkingaboutthatuncle.”
AnnewentupstairswithDoraandsatbyheruntilshefellasleep.
