Аня из Авонлеи
XXV. An Avonlea Scandal
“Iwanttogetacquaintedwithallmynewneighborsjustassoonaspossible.Mrs.Lyndeisalovelywoman,isn’tshe?Sofriendly.”
WhenAnnewenthomeinthesweetJunedusk,Mrs.Harrisonwentwithheracrossthefieldswherethefireflieswerelightingtheirstarrylamps.
“Isuppose,”saidMrs.Harrisonconfidentially,“thatJamesA.hastoldyouourstory?”
“Yes.”
“ThenIneedn’ttellit,forJamesA.isajustmanandhewouldtellthetruth.Theblamewasfarfrombeingallonhisside.Icanseethatnow.Iwasn’tbackinmyownhouseanhourbeforeIwishedIhadn’tbeensohastybutIwouldn’tgivein.IseenowthatIexpectedtoomuchofaman.AndIwasrealfoolishtomindhisbadgrammar.Itdoesn’tmatterifamandoesusebadgrammarsolongasheisagoodprovideranddoesn’tgopokingroundthepantrytoseehowmuchsugaryou’veusedinaweek.IfeelthatJamesA.andIaregoingtoberealhappynow.IwishIknewwho‘Observer’is,sothatIcouldthankhim.Iowehimarealdebtofgratitude.”
AnnekeptherowncounselandMrs.Harrisonneverknewthathergratitudefounditswaytoitsobject.Annefeltratherbewilderedoverthefar-reachingconsequencesofthosefoolish“notes.”Theyhadreconciledamantohiswifeandmadethereputationofaprophet.
Mrs.LyndewasintheGreenGableskitchen.ShehadbeentellingthewholestorytoMarilla.
“Well,andhowdoyoulikeMrs.Harrison?”sheaskedAnne.
“Verymuch.Ithinkshe’sarealnicelittlewoman.”
“That’sexactlywhatsheis,”saidMrs
