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XXIX. Poetry and Prose
Somebodyhadtoldhimthenthatshewastobemarriedandhethoughtshewasandneveraskedanybodyanythingabouther.Andnoweverythinghascomeright.AndIhadahandinbringingitabout.Perhaps,asMrs.Lyndesays,everythingisforeordainedanditwasboundtohappenanyway.Butevenso,it’snicetothinkonewasaninstrumentusedbypredestination.Yesindeed,it’sveryromantic.”
“Ican’tseethatit’ssoterriblyromanticatall,”saidMarillarathercrisply.MarillathoughtAnnewastooworkedupaboutitandhadplentytodowithgettingreadyforcollegewithout“traipsing”toEchoLodgetwodaysoutofthreehelpingMissLavendar.“Inthefirstplacetwoyoungfoolsquarrelandturnsulky;thenSteveIrvinggoestotheStatesandafteraspellgetsmarriedupthereandisperfectlyhappyfromallaccounts.Thenhiswifediesandafteradecentintervalhethinkshe’llcomehomeandseeifhisfirstfancy’llhavehim.Meanwhile,she’sbeenlivingsingle,probablybecausenobodyniceenoughcamealongtowanther,andtheymeetandagreetobemarriedafterall.Now,whereistheromanceinallthat?”
“Oh,thereisn’tany,whenyouputitthatway,”gaspedAnne,ratherasifsomebodyhadthrowncoldwateroverher.“Isupposethat’showitlooksinprose.Butit’sverydifferentifyoulookatitthroughpoetry...andIthinkit’snicer...”Annerecoveredherselfandhereyesshoneandhercheeksflushed...“tolookatitthroughpoetry.”
Marillaglancedattheradiantyoungfaceandrefrainedfromfurthersarcasticcomments.
