Аня из Авонлеи
XXVI. Around the Bend
andDoraisalovelychild,althoughsheis...kindof...well,kindof...”
“Monotonous?Exactly,”suppliedMrs.Rachel.“Likeabookwhereeverypageisthesame,that’swhat.Dorawillmakeagood,reliablewomanbutshe’llneversetthepondonfire.Well,thatsortoffolksarecomfortabletohaveround,evenifthey’renotasinterestingastheotherkind.”
GilbertBlythewasprobablytheonlypersontowhomthenewsofAnne’sresignationbroughtunmixedpleasure.Herpupilslookeduponitasasheercatastrophe.AnnettaBellhadhystericswhenshewenthome.AnthonyPyefoughttwopitchedandunprovokedbattleswithotherboysbywayofrelievinghisfeelings.BarbaraShawcriedallnight.PaulIrvingdefiantlytoldhisgrandmotherthatsheneedn’texpecthimtoeatanyporridgeforaweek.
“Ican’tdoit,Grandma,”hesaid.“Idon’treallyknowifIcaneatANYTHING.Ifeelasiftherewasadreadfullumpinmythroat.I’dhavecriedcominghomefromschoolifJakeDonnellhadn’tbeenwatchingme.IbelieveIwillcryafterIgotobed.Itwouldn’tshowonmyeyestomorrow,wouldit?Anditwouldbesucharelief.Butanyway,Ican’teatporridge.I’mgoingtoneedallmystrengthofmindtobearupagainstthis,Grandma,andIwon’thaveanylefttograpplewithporridge.OhGrandma,Idon’tknowwhatI’lldowhenmybeautifulteachergoesaway.MiltyBoultersayshebetsJaneAndrewswillgettheschool.IsupposeMissAndrewsisverynice.ButIknowshewon’tunderstandthingslikeMissShirley.”
Dianaalsotookaverypessimisticviewofaffairs.
