Аня из Авонлеи
V. A Full-fledged Schoolma’am
Annesecretlyfeltmoreinterestinthesetenthaninthosewhosepossibilitieswerealreadyfairlywellmappedouttoher.Tobesure,theymightbejustascommonplaceastherest;butontheotherhandthereMIGHTbeageniusamongthem.Itwasathrillingidea.
SittingbyhimselfatacornerdeskwasAnthonyPye.Hehadadark,sullenlittleface,andwasstaringatAnnewithahostileexpressioninhisblackeyes.Anneinstantlymadeuphermindthatshewouldwinthatboy’saffectionanddiscomfitthePyesutterly.
IntheothercorneranotherstrangeboywassittingwithArtySloane...ajollylookinglittlechap,withasnubnose,freckledface,andbig,lightblueeyes,fringedwithwhitishlashes...probablytheDonNELLboy;andifresemblancewentforanything,hissisterwassittingacrosstheaislewithMaryBell.Annewonderedwhatsortofmotherthechildhad,tosendhertoschooldressedasshewas.Sheworeafadedpinksilkdress,trimmedwithagreatdealofcottonlace,soiledwhitekidslippers,andsilkstockings.Hersandyhairwastorturedintoinnumerablekinkyandunnaturalcurls,surmountedbyaflamboyantbowofpinkribbonbiggerthanherhead.Judgingfromherexpressionshewasverywellsatisfiedwithherself.
Apalelittlething,withsmoothripplesoffine,silky,fawn-coloredhairflowingoverhershoulders,must,Annethought,beAnnettaBell,whoseparentshadformerlylivedintheNewbridgeschooldistrict,but,byreasonofhaulingtheirhousefiftyyardsnorthofitsoldsitewerenowinAvonlea.
