Аня из Авонлеи

           ShesawthatMissLavendarandPaulhad“taken”toeachother,andthattherewouldbenoconstraintorstiffness.MissLavendarwasaverysensibleperson,inspiteofherdreamsandromance,andafterthatfirstlittlebetrayalshetuckedherfeelingsoutofsightandentertainedPaulasbrightlyandnaturallyasifhewereanybody’ssonwhohadcometoseeher.TheyallhadajollyafternoontogetherandsuchafeastoffatthingsbywayofsupperaswouldhavemadeoldMrs.Irvingholdupherhandsinhorror,believingthatPaul’sdigestionwouldberuinedforever.

           “Comeagain,laddie,”saidMissLavendar,shakinghandswithhimatparting.

           “Youmaykissmeifyoulike,”saidPaulgravely.

           MissLavendarstoopedandkissedhim.

           “HowdidyouknowIwantedto?”shewhispered.

           “Becauseyoulookedatmejustasmylittlemotherusedtodowhenshewantedtokissme.Asarule,Idon’tliketobekissed.Boysdon’t.Youknow,MissLewis.ButIthinkIratherliketohaveyoukissme.AndofcourseI’llcometoseeyouagain.IthinkI’dliketohaveyouforaparticularfriendofmine,ifyoudon’tobject.”

           “I...Idon’tthinkIshallobject,”saidMissLavendar.Sheturnedandwentinveryquickly;butamomentlatershewaswavingagayandsmilinggood-byetothemfromthewindow.

           “IlikeMissLavendar,”announcedPaul,astheywalkedthroughthebeechwoods.“Ilikethewayshelookedatme,andIlikeherstonehouse,andIlikeCharlottatheFourth.IwishGrandmaIrvinghadaCharlottatheFourthinsteadofaMaryJoe