Аня из Авонлеи
V. A Full-fledged Schoolma’am
Donnell,inatonewhichimpliedthatgratitudeinchildrenwasnottobelookedforinthisdegenerateage.“Thatboyhassuchplebeiantastes,MissShirley.WhenhewasbornIwantedtocallhimSt.Clair...itsoundsSOaristocratic,doesn’tit?ButhisfatherinsistedheshouldbecalledJacobafterhisuncle.Iyielded,becauseUncleJacobwasaricholdbachelor.Andwhatdoyouthink,MissShirley?WhenourinnocentboywasfiveyearsoldUncleJacobactuallywentandgotmarriedandnowhehasthreeboysofhisown.Didyoueverhearofsuchingratitude?Themomenttheinvitationtothewedding...forhehadtheimpertinencetosendusaninvitation,MissShirley...cametothehouseIsaid,‘NomoreJacobsforme,thankyou.’FromthatdayIcalledmysonSt.ClairandSt.ClairIamdeterminedheshallbecalled.HisfatherobstinatelycontinuestocallhimJacob,andtheboyhimselfhasaperfectlyunaccountablepreferenceforthevulgarname.ButSt.ClairheisandSt.Clairheshallremain.Youwillkindlyrememberthis,MissShirley,willyounot?THANKyou.ItoldClariceAlmirathatIwassureitwasonlyamisunderstandingandthatawordwouldsetitright.Donnell...accentonthelastsyllable...andSt.Clair...onnoaccountJacob.You’llremember?THANKyou.”
WhenMrs.H.B.DonNELLhadskimmedawayAnnelockedtheschooldoorandwenthome.AtthefootofthehillshefoundPaulIrvingbytheBirchPath.HeheldouttoheraclusterofthedaintylittlewildorchidswhichAvonleachildrencalled“ricelillies.”
“Please,teacher,IfoundtheseinMr.
