Аня из Авонлеи
XXV. An Avonlea Scandal
ItwouldhavebeennutsforMrs.RachelLyndeifshehadknownmywifehadleftme,wouldn’titnow?”
“Butsomepeoplesaythatyoulefther.”
“Shestartedit,Anne,shestartedit.I’mgoingtotellyouthewholestory,forIdon’twantyoutothinkworseofmethanIdeserve...norofEmilyneither.Butlet’sgooutontheveranda.Everythingissofearfulneatinherethatitkindofmakesmehomesick.IsupposeI’llgetusedtoitafterawhilebutiteasesmeuptolookattheyard.Emilyhasn’thadtimetotidyitupyet.”
AssoonastheywerecomfortablyseatedontheverandaMr.Harrisonbeganhistaleofwoe.
“IlivedinScottsford,NewBrunswick,beforeIcamehere,Anne.Mysisterkepthouseformeandshesuitedmefine;shewasjustreasonablytidyandsheletmealoneandspoiledme...soEmilysays.Butthreeyearsagoshedied.BeforeshediedsheworriedalotaboutwhatwastobecomeofmeandfinallyshegotmetopromiseI’dgetmarried.SheadvisedmetotakeEmilyScottbecauseEmilyhadmoneyofherownandwasapatternhousekeeper.Isaid,saysI,‘EmilyScottwouldn’tlookatme.’‘Youaskherandsee,’saysmysister;andjusttoeasehermindIpromisedherIwould...andIdid.AndEmilysaidshe’dhaveme.Neverwassosurprisedinmylife,Anne...asmartprettylittlewomanlikeherandanoldfellowlikeme.ItellyouIthoughtatfirstIwasinluck.Well,weweremarriedandtookalittleweddingtriptoSt.Johnforafortnightandthenwewenthome.
