Аня из Авонлеи
XXIX. Poetry and Prose
Perhapssomerealizationcametoherthatafterallitwasbettertohave,likeAnne,“thevisionandthefacultydivine”...thatgiftwhichtheworldcannotbestowortakeaway,oflookingatlifethroughsometransfiguring...orrevealing?...medium,wherebyeverythingseemedapparelledincelestiallight,wearingagloryandafreshnessnotvisibletothosewho,likeherselfandCharlottatheFourth,lookedatthingsonlythroughprose.
“When’stheweddingtobe?”sheaskedafterapause.
“ThelastWednesdayinAugust.Theyaretobemarriedinthegardenunderthehoneysuckletrellis...theveryspotwhereMr.Irvingproposedtohertwenty-fiveyearsago.Marilla,thatISromantic,eveninprose.There’stobenobodythereexceptMrs.IrvingandPaulandGilbertandDianaandI,andMissLavendar’scousins.Andtheywillleaveonthesixo’clocktrainforatriptothePacificcoast.WhentheycomebackinthefallPaulandCharlottatheFourtharetogouptoBostontolivewiththem.ButEchoLodgeistobeleftjustasitis...onlyofcoursethey’llsellthehensandcow,andboardupthewindows...andeverysummerthey’recomingdowntoliveinit.I’msoglad.ItwouldhavehurtmedreadfullynextwinteratRedmondtothinkofthatdearstonehouseallstrippedanddeserted,withemptyrooms...orfarworsestill,withotherpeoplelivinginit.ButIcanthinkofitnow,justasI’vealwaysseenit,waitinghappilyforthesummertobringlifeandlaughterbacktoitagain.
