Аня из Авонлеи
IV. Different Opinions
AnnewentbacktoGreenGablesbywayofBirchPath,shadowy,rustling,fern-scented,throughVioletValeandpastWillowmere,wheredarkandlightkissedeachotherunderthefirs,anddownthroughLover’sLane...spotssheandDianahadsonamedlongago.Shewalkedslowly,enjoyingthesweetnessofwoodandfieldandthestarrysummertwilight,andthinkingsoberlyaboutthenewdutiesshewastotakeuponthemorrow.WhenshereachedtheyardatGreenGablesMrs.Lynde’sloud,decidedtonesfloatedoutthroughtheopenkitchenwindow.
“Mrs.Lyndehascomeuptogivemegoodadviceabouttomorrow,”thoughtAnnewithagrimace,“butIdon’tbelieveI’llgoin.Heradviceismuchlikepepper,Ithink...excellentinsmallquantitiesbutratherscorchinginherdoses.I’llrunoverandhaveachatwithMr.Harrisoninstead.”
ThiswasnotthefirsttimeAnnehadrunoverandchattedwithMr.HarrisonsincethenotableaffairoftheJerseycow.ShehadbeenthereseveraleveningsandMr.Harrisonandshewereverygoodfriends,althoughthereweretimesandseasonswhenAnnefoundtheoutspokennessonwhichhepridedhimselfrathertrying.Gingerstillcontinuedtoregardherwithsuspicion,andneverfailedtogreethersarcasticallyas“redheadedsnippet.”Mr.HarrisonhadtriedvainlytobreakhimofthehabitbyjumpingexcitedlyupwheneverhesawAnnecomingandexclaiming,
“Blessmysoul,here’sthatprettylittlegirlagain,”orsomethingequallyflattering.ButGingersawthroughtheschemeandscornedit.AnnewasnevertoknowhowmanycomplimentsMr.
