Аня из Авонлеи
XXV. An Avonlea Scandal
Isuppose,”turningtoAnne,“thatparrotofhisisasprofaneasever?”
“Hisparrot...isdead...ITHINK,”gaspedpoorAnne,whocouldn’thavefeltsureofherownnameatthatprecisemoment.
“Dead!Everythingwillbeallrightthen,”criedtherosyladyjubilantly.“IcanmanageJamesA.ifthatbirdisoutoftheway.”
WithwhichcrypticutteranceshewentjoyfullyonherwayandAnneflewtothekitchendoortomeetMarilla.
“Anne,whowasthatwoman?”
“Marilla,”saidAnnesolemnly,butwithdancingeyes,“doIlookasifIwerecrazy?”
“Notmoresothanusual,”saidMarilla,withnothoughtofbeingsarcastic.
“Wellthen,doyouthinkIamawake?”
“Anne,whatnonsensehasgotintoyou?Whowasthatwoman,Isay?”
“Marilla,ifI’mnotcrazyandnotasleepshecan’tbesuchstuffasdreamsaremadeof...shemustbereal.Anyway,I’msureIcouldn’thaveimaginedsuchabonnet.ShesayssheisMr.Harrison’swife,Marilla.”
Marillastaredinherturn.
“Hiswife!AnneShirley!Thenwhathashebeenpassinghimselfoffasanunmarriedmanfor?”
“Idon’tsupposehedid,really,”saidAnne,tryingtobejust.“Heneversaidhewasn’tmarried.Peoplesimplytookitforgranted.OhMarilla,whatwillMrs.Lyndesaytothis?”
TheyfoundoutwhatMrs.Lyndehadtosaywhenshecameupthatevening.Mrs.Lyndewasn’tsurprised!Mrs.Lyndehadalwaysexpectedsomethingofthesort!Mrs.LyndehadalwaysknowntherewasSOMETHINGaboutMr.Harrison!
“Tothinkofhisdesertinghiswife!”shesaidindignantly.
