Аня из Авонлеи
XXI. Sweet Miss Lavendar
Butyouareexpectingotherguests,aren’tyou?”
MissLavendarlookedatherteatableagain,andblushed.
“Iknowyou’llthinkmedreadfullyfoolish,”shesaid.“IAMfoolish...andI’mashamedofitwhenI’mfoundout,butneverunlessIAMfoundout.I’mnotexpectinganybody...IwasjustpretendingIwas.Yousee,Iwassolonely.Ilovecompany...thatis,therightkindofcompany...butsofewpeopleevercomeherebecauseitissofaroutoftheway.CharlottatheFourthwaslonelytoo.SoIjustpretendedIwasgoingtohaveateaparty.Icookedforit...anddecoratedthetableforit...andsetitwithmymother’sweddingchina...andIdressedupforit.”DianasecretlythoughtMissLavendarquiteaspeculiarasreporthadpicturedher.Theideaofawomanofforty-fiveplayingathavingateaparty,justasifshewerealittlegirl!ButAnneoftheshiningeyesexclaimedjoyfuly,“Oh,doYOUimaginethingstoo?”
That“too”revealedakindredspirittoMissLavendar.
“Yes,Ido,”sheconfessed,boldly.“Ofcourseit’ssillyinanybodyasoldasIam.Butwhatistheuseofbeinganindependentoldmaidifyoucan’tbesillywhenyouwantto,andwhenitdoesn’thurtanybody?Apersonmusthavesomecompensations.Idon’tbelieveIcouldliveattimesifIdidn’tpretendthings.I’mnotoftencaughtatitthough,andCharlottatheFourthnevertells.ButI’mgladtobecaughttoday,foryouhavereallycomeandIhaveteaallreadyforyou.
