Аня из Авонлеи
V. A Full-fledged Schoolma’am
Hismouthwasdelicious,beingfullwithoutpouting,thecrimsonlipsjustsoftlytouchingandcurvingintofinelyfinishedlittlecornersthatnarrowlyescapedbeingdimpled.Hehadasober,grave,meditativeexpression,asifhisspiritwasmucholderthanhisbody;butwhenAnnesmiledsoftlyathimitvanishedinasuddenansweringsmile,whichseemedanilluminationofhiswholebeing,asifsomelamphadsuddenlykindledintoflameinsideofhim,irradiatinghimfromtoptotoe.Bestofall,itwasinvoluntary,bornofnoexternaleffortormotive,butsimplytheoutflashingofahiddenpersonality,rareandfineandsweet.WithaquickinterchangeofsmilesAnneandPaulwerefastfriendsforeverbeforeawordhadpassedbetweenthem.
Thedaywentbylikeadream.Annecouldneverclearlyrecallitafterwards.Italmostseemedasifitwerenotshewhowasteachingbutsomebodyelse.Sheheardclassesandworkedsumsandsetcopiesmechanically.Thechildrenbehavedquitewell;onlytwocasesofdisciplineoccurred.MorleyAndrewswascaughtdrivingapairoftrainedcricketsintheaisle.AnnestoodMorleyontheplatformforanhourand...whichMorleyfeltmuchmorekeenly...confiscatedhiscrickets.SheputtheminaboxandonthewayfromschoolsetthemfreeinVioletVale;butMorleybelieved,thenandeverafterwards,thatshetookthemhomeandkeptthemforherownamusement.
TheotherculpritwasAnthonyPye,whopouredthelastdropsofwaterfromhisslatebottledownthebackofAureliaClay’sneck.
