Аня из Авонлеи
XXIII. Miss Lavendar’s Romance
Isn’tthiscandyscrumptious?I’veeatenfarmorethanisgoodformealreadybutI’mgoingtokeeprecklesslyon.”
AfteralittlesilenceMissLavendarsaidabruptly,
“ItgavemeashocktohearaboutStephen’ssonthatfirstdayyouwerehere,Anne.I’veneverbeenabletomentionhimtoyousince,butI’vewantedtoknowallabouthim.Whatsortofaboyishe?”
“Heisthedearest,sweetestchildIeverknew,MissLavendar...andhepretendsthingstoo,justasyouandIdo.”
“I’dliketoseehim,”saidMissLavendarsoftly,asiftalkingtoherself.“Iwonderifhelooksanythinglikethelittledream-boywholivesherewithme...MYlittledream-boy.”
“IfyouwouldliketoseePaulI’llbringhimthroughwithmesometime,”saidAnne.
“Iwouldlikeit...butnottoosoon.Iwanttogetusedtothethought.Theremightbemorepainthanpleasureinit...ifhelookedtoomuchlikeStephen...orifhedidn’tlookenoughlikehim.Inamonth’stimeyoumaybringhim.”
Accordingly,amonthlaterAnneandPaulwalkedthroughthewoodstothestonehouse,andmetMissLavendarinthelane.Shehadnotbeenexpectingthemjustthenandsheturnedverypale.
“SothisisStephen’sboy,”shesaidinalowtone,takingPaul’shandandlookingathimashestood,beautifulandboyish,inhissmartlittlefurcoatandcap.“He...heisverylikehisfather.”
“EverybodysaysI’machipofftheoldblock,”remarkedPaul,quiteathisease.
Anne,whohadbeenwatchingthelittlescene,drewarelievedbreath.
