Аня из Авонлеи
VII. The Pointing of Duty
LyndesaysHenrySprottisthemostprofanemanthateverlivedandyoucan’tbelieveawordhischildrensay.Wouldn’titbedreadfultohavethetwinslearnanythinglikethat?OrsupposetheywenttotheWiggins’.Mrs.LyndesaysthatMr.Wigginssellseverythingofftheplacethatcanbesoldandbringshisfamilyuponskimmilk.Youwouldn’tlikeyourrelationstobestarved,eveniftheywereonlythirdcousins,wouldyou?Itseemstome,Marilla,thatitisourdutytotakethem.”
“Isupposeitis,”assentedMarillagloomily.“IdaresayI’lltellMaryI’lltakethem.Youneedn’tlooksodelighted,Anne.Itwillmeanagooddealofextraworkforyou.Ican’tsewastitchonaccountofmyeyes,soyou’llhavetoseetothemakingandmendingoftheirclothes.Andyoudon’tlikesewing.”
“Ihateit,”saidAnnecalmly,“butifyouarewillingtotakethosechildrenfromasenseofdutysurelyIcandotheirsewingfromasenseofduty.Itdoespeoplegoodtohavetodothingstheydon’tlike...inmoderation.”
