Аня из Авонлеи
VIII. Marilla Adopts Twins
“I’msohungryIain’tgottimetoeatp’litely,”hesaidwhenMarillareprovedhim.“Doraain’thalfashungryasIam.Lookatalltheex’ciseItookontheroadhere.Thatcake’sawfulniceandplummy.Wehaven’thadanycakeathomeforever’neversolong,‘causemotherwastoosicktomakeitandMrs.Sprottsaiditwasasmuchasshecoulddotobakeourbreadforus.AndMrs.WigginsneverputsanyplumsinHERcakes.Catchher!CanIhaveanotherpiece?”
MarillawouldhaverefusedbutAnnecutageneroussecondslice.However,sheremindedDavythatheoughttosay“Thankyou”forit.Davymerelygrinnedatherandtookahugebite.Whenhehadfinishedtheslicehesaid,
“Ifyou’llgivemeANOTHERpieceI’llsaythankyouforIT.”
“No,youhavehadplentyofcake,”saidMarillainatonewhichAnneknewandDavywastolearntobefinal.
DavywinkedatAnne,andthen,leaningoverthetable,snatchedDora’sfirstpieceofcake,fromwhichshehadjusttakenonedaintylittlebite,outofherveryfingersand,openinghismouthtothefullestextent,crammedthewholeslicein.Dora’sliptrembledandMarillawasspeechlesswithhorror.Annepromptlyexclaimed,withherbest“schoolma’am”air,
“Oh,Davy,gentlemendon’tdothingslikethat.”
“Iknowtheydon’t,”saidDavy,assoonashecouldspeak,“butIain’tagemplum.”
“Butdon’tyouwanttobe?”saidshockedAnne.
“CourseIdo.Butyoucan’tbeagemplumtillyougrowup.”
“Oh,indeedyoucan,”Annehastenedtosay,thinkingshesawachancetosowgoodseedbetimes.
