Аня з острова Принца Едуарда

Gilbert Speaks

           Gilbert’sfacewaswhitetothelips.Andhiseyes—butAnneshudderedandlookedaway.Therewasnothingromanticaboutthis.Mustproposalsbeeithergrotesqueor—horrible?CouldsheeverforgetGilbert’sface?

           “Isthereanybodyelse?”heaskedatlastinalowvoice.

           “No—no,”saidAnneeagerly.“Idon’tcareforanyonelikeTHAT—andILIKEyoubetterthananybodyelseintheworld,Gilbert.Andwemust—wemustgoonbeingfriends,Gilbert.”

           Gilbertgaveabitterlittlelaugh.

           “Friends!Yourfriendshipcan’tsatisfyme,Anne.Iwantyourlove—andyoutellmeIcanneverhavethat.”

           “I’msorry.Forgiveme,Gilbert,”wasallAnnecouldsay.Where,oh,wherewereallthegraciousandgracefulspeecheswherewith,inimagination,shehadbeenwonttodismissrejectedsuitors?

           Gilbertreleasedherhandgently.

           “Thereisn’tanythingtoforgive.TherehavebeentimeswhenIthoughtyoudidcare.I’vedeceivedmyself,that’sall.Goodbye,Anne.”

           Annegotherselftoherroom,satdownonherwindowseatbehindthepines,andcriedbitterly.Shefeltasifsomethingincalculablyprecioushadgoneoutofherlife.ItwasGilbert’sfriendship,ofcourse.Oh,whymustsheloseitafterthisfashion?

           “Whatisthematter,honey?”askedPhil,cominginthroughthemoonlitgloom.

           Annedidnotanswer.AtthatmomentshewishedPhilwereathousandmilesaway.

           “Isupposeyou’vegoneandrefusedGilbertBlythe.Youareanidiot,AnneShirley!”

           “DoyoucallitidiotictorefusetomarryamanIdon’tlove?”saidAnnecoldly,goadedtoreply

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