Аня из Авонлеи
XXI. Sweet Miss Lavendar
..aratherangularpersonage,withprimgrayhairandspectacles.NothingmoreunlikeMissLavendarcouldpossiblybeimagined.
Shewasalittleladywithsnow-whitehairbeautifullywavyandthick,andcarefullyarrangedinbecomingpuffsandcoils.Beneathitwasanalmostgirlishface,pinkcheekedandsweetlipped,withbigsoftbrowneyesanddimples...actuallydimples.Sheworeaverydaintygownofcreammuslinwithpale-huedrosesonit...agownwhichwouldhaveseemedridiculouslyjuvenileonmostwomenofherage,butwhichsuitedMissLavendarsoperfectlythatyouneverthoughtaboutitatall.
“CharlottatheFourthsaysthatyouwishedtoseeme,”shesaid,inavoicethatmatchedherappearance.
“WewantedtoasktherightroadtoWestGrafton,”saidDiana.“WeareinvitedtoteaatMr.Kimball’s,butwetookthewrongpathcomingthroughthewoodsandcameouttothebaselineinsteadoftheWestGraftonroad.Dowetaketherightorleftturningatyourgate?”
“Theleft,”saidMissLavendar,withahesitatingglanceatherteatable.Thensheexclaimed,asifinasuddenlittleburstofresolution,
“Butoh,won’tyoustayandhaveteawithme?Please,do.Mr.Kimball’swillhaveteaoverbeforeyougetthere.AndCharlottatheFourthandIwillbesogladtohaveyou.”
DianalookedmuteinquiryatAnne.
“We’dliketostay,”saidAnnepromptly,forshehadmadeuphermindthatshewantedtoknowmoreofthissurprisingMissLavendar,“ifitwon’tinconvenienceyou.
