Аня из Авонлеи
III. Mr. Harrison at Home
Anne,however,wasbeginningtolikethequeer,fussy,fidgetylittleman,andbeforethemealwasovertheywerequitegoodfriends.Mr.HarrisonfoundoutabouttheImprovementSocietyandwasdisposedtoapproveofit.
“That’sright.Goahead.There’slotsofroomforimprovementinthissettlement...andinthepeopletoo.”
“Oh,Idon’tknow,”flashedAnne.Toherself,ortoherparticularcronies,shemightadmitthatthereweresomesmallimperfections,easilyremovable,inAvonleaanditsinhabitants.ButtohearapracticaloutsiderlikeMr.Harrisonsayingitwasanentirelydifferentthing.“IthinkAvonleaisalovelyplace;andthepeopleinitareverynice,too.”
“Iguessyou’vegotaspiceoftemper,”commentedMr.Harrison,surveyingtheflushedcheeksandindignanteyesoppositehim.“Itgoeswithhairlikeyours,Ireckon.AvonleaisaprettydecentplaceorIwouldn’thavelocatedhere;butIsupposeevenyouwilladmitthatithasSOMEfaults?”
“Ilikeitallthebetterforthem,”saidloyalAnne.“Idon’tlikeplacesorpeopleeitherthathaven’tanyfaults.Ithinkatrulyperfectpersonwouldbeveryuninteresting.Mrs.MiltonWhitesaysshenevermetaperfectperson,butshe’sheardenoughaboutone...herhusband’sfirstwife.Don’tyouthinkitmustbeveryuncomfortabletobemarriedtoamanwhosefirstwifewasperfect?”
“Itwouldbemoreuncomfortabletobemarriedtotheperfectwife,”declaredMr.Harrison,withasuddenandinexplicablewarmth.
WhenteawasoverAnneinsistedonwashingthedishes,althoughMr.
