Аня з Авонлеї
XII. A Jonah Day
Thecrackerswentoffinathunderclapofnoiseandthepinwheelsburstingoutofthedoorspunmadlyaroundtheroom,hissingandspluttering.Annedroppedintoherchairwhitewithdismayandallthegirlsclimbedshriekingupontheirdesks.JoeSloanestoodasonetransfixedinthemidstofthecommotionandSt.Clair,helplesswithlaughter,rockedtoandfrointheaisle.PrillieRogersonfaintedandAnnettaBellwentintohysterics.
Itseemedalongtime,althoughitwasreallyonlyafewminutes,beforethelastpinwheelsubsided.Anne,recoveringherself,sprangtoopendoorsandwindowsandletoutthegasandsmokewhichfilledtheroom.ThenshehelpedthegirlscarrytheunconsciousPrillieintotheporch,whereBarbaraShaw,inanagonyofdesiretobeuseful,pouredapailfulofhalffrozenwateroverPrillie’sfaceandshouldersbeforeanyonecouldstopher.
Itwasafullhourbeforequietwasrestored...butitwasaquietthatmightbefelt.Everybodyrealizedthateventheexplosionhadnotclearedtheteacher’smentalatmosphere.Nobody,exceptAnthonyPye,daredwhisperaword.NedClayaccidentallysqueakedhispencilwhileworkingasum,caughtAnne’seyeandwishedthefloorwouldopenandswallowhimup.Thegeographyclasswerewhiskedthroughacontinentwithaspeedthatmadethemdizzy.Thegrammarclasswereparsedandanalyzedwithinaninchoftheirlives.ChesterSloane,spelling“odoriferous”withtwof’s,wasmadetofeelthathecouldneverlivedownthedisgraceofit,eitherinthisworldorthatwhichistocome.
