Аня из Авонлеи

           ThenextdayMirabelCottonwaskeptinatrecessand“gentlybutfirmly”giventounderstandthatwhenyouweresounfortunateastopossessanunclewhopersistedinwalkingabouthousesafterhehadbeendecentlyinterreditwasnotingoodtastetotalkaboutthateccentricgentlemantoyourdeskmateoftenderyears.Mirabelthoughtthisveryharsh.TheCottonshadnotmuchtoboastof.Howwasshetokeepupherprestigeamongherschoolmatesifshewereforbiddentomakecapitaloutofthefamilyghost?

           SeptemberslippedbyintoagoldandcrimsongraciousnessofOctober.OneFridayeveningDianacameover.

           “I’daletterfromEllaKimballtoday,Anne,andshewantsustogoovertoteatomorrowafternoontomeethercousin,IreneTrent,fromtown.Butwecan’tgetoneofourhorsestogo,forthey’llallbeinusetomorrow,andyourponyislame...soIsupposewecan’tgo.”

           “Whycan’twewalk?”suggestedAnne.“Ifwegostraightbackthroughthewoodswe’llstriketheWestGraftonroadnotfarfromtheKimballplace.IwasthroughthatwaylastwinterandIknowtheroad.It’snomorethanfourmilesandwewon’thavetowalkhome,forOliverKimballwillbesuretodriveus.He’llbeonlytoogladoftheexcuse,forhegoestoseeCarrieSloaneandtheysayhisfatherwillhardlyeverlethimhaveahorse.