Аня из Авонлеи
IX. A Question of Color
Now,you’vetoldmeadozentimesthatmyhairwasred,butyou’veneveroncetoldmethatIhadanicenose.”
“Idaresayyouknowitwithoutanytelling,”chuckledMr.Harrison.
“IknowIhaveredhairtoo...althoughit’sMUCHdarkerthanitusedtobe...sothere’snoneedoftellingmethateither.”
“Well,well,I’lltryandnotmentionitagainsinceyou’resosensitive.Youmustexcuseme,Anne.I’vegotahabitofbeingoutspokenandfolksmustn’tmindit.”
“Buttheycan’thelpmindingit.AndIdon’tthinkit’sanyhelpthatit’syourhabit.Whatwouldyouthinkofapersonwhowentaboutstickingpinsandneedlesintopeopleandsaying,‘Excuseme,youmustn’tmindit...it’sjustahabitI’vegot.’You’dthinkhewascrazy,wouldn’tyou?AndasforMrs.Lyndebeingabusybody,perhapssheis.Butdidyoutellhershehadaverykindheartandalwayshelpedthepoor,andneversaidawordwhenTimothyCottonstoleacrockofbutteroutofherdairyandtoldhiswifehe’dboughtitfromher?Mrs.CottoncastituptoherthenexttimetheymetthatittastedofturnipsandMrs.Lyndejustsaidshewassorryithadturnedoutsopoorly.”
“Isupposeshehassomegoodqualities,”concededMr.Harrisongrudgingly.“Mostfolkshave.Ihavesomemyself,thoughyoumightneversuspectit.ButanyhowIain’tgoingtogiveanythingtothatcarpet.Folksareeverlastingbeggingformoneyhere,itseemstome.How’syourprojectofpaintingthehallcomingon?”
“Splendidly.WehadameetingoftheA.V.I.S.
