Аня із Зелених Мезонінів

Chapter XXXIII. The Hotel Concert

           Shewasalithe,dark-eyedwomaninawonderfulgownofshimmeringgraystufflikewovenmoonbeams,withgemsonherneckandinherdarkhair.Shehadamarvelouslyflexiblevoiceandwonderfulpowerofexpression;theaudiencewentwildoverherselection.Anne,forgettingallaboutherselfandhertroublesforthetime,listenedwithraptandshiningeyes;butwhentherecitationendedshesuddenlyputherhandsoverherface.Shecouldnevergetupandreciteafterthat—never.Hadsheeverthoughtshecouldrecite?Oh,ifshewereonlybackatGreenGables!

           Atthisunpropitiousmomenthernamewascalled.SomehowAnne—whodidnotnoticetheratherguiltylittlestartofsurprisethewhite-lacegirlgave,andwouldnothaveunderstoodthesubtlecomplimentimpliedthereinifshehad—gotonherfeet,andmoveddizzilyouttothefront.ShewassopalethatDianaandJane,downintheaudience,claspedeachother’shandsinnervoussympathy.

           Annewasthevictimofanoverwhelmingattackofstagefright.Oftenasshehadrecitedinpublic,shehadneverbeforefacedsuchanaudienceasthis,andthesightofitparalyzedherenergiescompletely.Everythingwassostrange,sobrilliant,sobewildering—therowsofladiesineveningdress,thecriticalfaces,thewholeatmosphereofwealthandcultureabouther.VerydifferentthisfromtheplainbenchesattheDebatingClub,filledwiththehomely,sympatheticfacesoffriendsandneighbors.Thesepeople,shethought,wouldbemercilesscritics.Perhaps,likethewhite-lacegirl,theyanticipatedamusementfromher“rustic”efforts.

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