Аня из Авонлеи
VI. All Sorts and Conditions of Men... and women
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“Treeshaven’tsouls,”saidpracticalDiana,“butthesmellofdeadfiriscertainlylovely.I’mgoingtomakeacushionandfillitwithfirneedles.You’dbettermakeonetoo,Anne.”
“IthinkIshall...anduseitformynaps.I’dbecertaintodreamIwasadryadorawoodnymphthen.ButjustthisminuteI’mwellcontenttobeAnneShirley,Avonleaschoolma’am,drivingoveraroadlikethisonsuchasweet,friendlyday.”
“It’salovelydaybutwehaveanythingbutalovelytaskbeforeus,”sighedDiana.“Whyonearthdidyouoffertocanvassthisroad,Anne?AlmostallthecranksinAvonlealivealongit,andwe’llprobablybetreatedasifwewerebeggingforourselves.It’stheveryworstroadofall.”
“ThatiswhyIchoseit.OfcourseGilbertandFredwouldhavetakenthisroadifwehadaskedthem.Butyousee,Diana,IfeelmyselfresponsiblefortheA.V.I.S.,sinceIwasthefirsttosuggestit,anditseemstomethatIoughttodothemostdisagreeablethings.I’msorryonyouraccount;butyouneedn’tsayawordatthecrankyplaces.I’lldoallthetalking...Mrs.LyndewouldsayIwaswellableto.Mrs.Lyndedoesn’tknowwhethertoapproveofourenterpriseornot.Sheinclinesto,whensheremembersthatMr.andMrs.Allanareinfavorofit;butthefactthatvillageimprovementsocietiesfirstoriginatedintheStatesisacountagainstit.SosheishaltingbetweentwoopinionsandonlysuccesswilljustifyusinMrs.Lynde’seyes.
