Аня из Авонлеи
XXIV. A Prophet in His Own Country
LyndesayssheknowsIsabellaAndrewsmustbegoingtogetmarried,she’sinsuchgoodspiritsthisspring.”
PooroldUncleAbefeltratherindignantoverthenotes.Hesuspectedthat“Observer”wasmakingfunofhim.Heangrilydeniedhavingassignedanyparticulardateforhisstormbutnobodybelievedhim.
LifeinAvonleacontinuedonthesmoothandeventenorofitsway.The“planting”wasputin;theImproverscelebratedanArborDay.EachImproversetout,orcausedtobesetout,fiveornamentaltrees.Asthesocietynownumberedfortymembers,thismeantatotaloftwohundredyoungtrees.Earlyoatsgreenedovertheredfields;appleorchardsflunggreatblossomingarmsaboutthefarmhousesandtheSnowQueenadorneditselfasabrideforherhusband.Annelikedtosleepwithherwindowopenandletthecherryfragranceblowoverherfaceallnight.Shethoughtitverypoetical.Marillathoughtshewasriskingherlife.
“Thanksgivingshouldbecelebratedinthespring,”saidAnneoneeveningtoMarilla,astheysatonthefrontdoorstepsandlistenedtothesilver-sweetchorusofthefrogs.“IthinkitwouldbeeversomuchbetterthanhavingitinNovemberwheneverythingisdeadorasleep.Thenyouhavetoremembertobethankful;butinMayonesimplycan’thelpbeingthankful...thattheyarealive,iffornothingelse.IfeelexactlyasEvemusthavefeltinthegardenofEdenbeforethetroublebegan.
