Аня из Авонлеи
XXV. An Avonlea Scandal
Inspiteofhavingdriveneightmilesoveradustyroadshewasasneatasifshehadjuststeppedoutoftheproverbialbandbox.
“IsthiswhereMr.JamesA.Harrisonlives?”sheinquiredbriskly.
“No,Mr.Harrisonlivesoverthere,”saidAnne,quitelostinastonishment.
“Well,IDIDthinkthisplaceseemedtootidy...MUCHtootidyforJamesA.tobelivinghere,unlesshehasgreatlychangedsinceIknewhim,”chirpedthelittlelady.“IsittruethatJamesA.isgoingtobemarriedtosomewomanlivinginthissettlement?”
“No,ohno,”criedAnne,flushingsoguiltilythatthestrangerlookedcuriouslyather,asifshehalfsuspectedherofmatrimonialdesignsonMr.Harrison.
“ButIsawitinanIslandpaper,”persistedtheFairUnknown.“Afriendsentamarkedcopytome...friendsarealwayssoreadytodosuchthings.JamesA.‘snamewaswritteninover‘newcitizen.’”
“Oh,thatnotewasonlymeantasajoke,”gaspedAnne.“Mr.HarrisonhasnointentionofmarryingANYBODY.Iassureyouhehasn’t.”
“I’mverygladtohearit,”saidtherosylady,climbingnimblybacktoherseatinthewagon,“becausehehappenstobemarriedalready.Iamhiswife.Oh,youmaywelllooksurprised.Isupposehehasbeenmasqueradingasabachelorandbreakingheartsrightandleft.Well,well,JamesA.,”noddingvigorouslyoverthefieldsatthelongwhitehouse,“yourfunisover.Iamhere...thoughIwouldn’thavebotheredcomingifIhadn’tthoughtyouwereuptosomemischief.
