Аня из Авонлеи
VI. All Sorts and Conditions of Men... and women
EverybodysaysDanBlairdoesn’tdarehavehishaircutwithoutaskingherpermission;andit’scertainshe’sveryclose,tostateitmoderately.Shesaysshehastobejustbeforeshe’sgenerous.ButMrs.Lyndesaysshe’ssomuch‘before’thatgenerositynevercatchesupwithheratall.”
AnnerelatedtheirexperienceattheBlairplacetoMarillathatevening.
“Wetiedthehorseandthenrappedatthekitchendoor.Nobodycamebutthedoorwasopenandwecouldhearsomebodyinthepantry,goingondreadfully.Wecouldn’tmakeoutthewordsbutDianasayssheknowstheywereswearingbythesoundofthem.Ican’tbelievethatofMr.Blair,forheisalwayssoquietandmeek;butatleasthehadgreatprovocation,forMarilla,whenthatpoormancametothedoor,redasabeet,withperspirationstreamingdownhisface,hehadononeofhiswife’sbigginghamaprons.‘Ican’tgetthisdurnedthingoff,’hesaid,‘forthestringsaretiedinahardknotandIcan’tbust‘em,soyou’llhavetoexcuseme,ladies.’Webeggedhimnottomentionitandwentinandsatdown.Mr.Blairsatdowntoo;hetwistedtheapronaroundtohisbackandrolleditup,buthedidlooksoashamedandworriedthatIfeltsorryforhim,andDianasaidshefearedwehadcalledataninconvenienttime.‘Oh,notatall,’saidMr.Blair,tryingtosmile...youknowheisalwaysverypolite...‘I’malittlebusy...gettingreadytobakeacakeasitwere.
