Аня з Авонлеї
XIII. A Golden Picnic
Pushingthroughtheundergrowthbeyond,thegirlscameouttotheyounggreenseclusionofMr.SilasSloane’sbackpasture.Acrossittheyfoundtheentrancetoalanestrikingupthroughthewoodsandvotedtoexploreitalso.Itrewardedtheirquestwithasuccessionofprettysurprises.First,skirtingMr.Sloane’spasture,cameanarchwayofwildcherrytreesallinbloom.Thegirlsswungtheirhatsontheirarmsandwreathedtheirhairwiththecreamy,fluffyblossoms.Thenthelaneturnedatrightanglesandplungedintoasprucewoodsothickanddarkthattheywalkedinagloomasoftwilight,withnotaglimpseofskyorsunlighttobeseen.
“Thisiswherethebadwoodelvesdwell,”whisperedAnne.“Theyareimpishandmaliciousbuttheycan’tharmus,becausetheyarenotallowedtodoevilinthespring.Therewasonepeepingatusaroundthatoldtwistedfir;anddidn’tyouseeagroupofthemonthatbigfrecklytoadstoolwejustpassed?Thegoodfairiesalwaysdwellinthesunshinyplaces.”
“Iwishtherereallywerefairies,”saidJane.“Wouldn’titbenicetohavethreewishesgrantedyou...orevenonlyone?Whatwouldyouwishfor,girls,ifyoucouldhaveawishgranted?I’dwishtoberichandbeautifulandclever.”
“I’dwishtobetallandslender,”saidDiana.
“Iwouldwishtobefamous,”saidPriscilla.Annethoughtofherhairandthendismissedthethoughtasunworthy.
“I’dwishitmightbespringallthetimeandineverybody’sheartandallourlives,”shesaid.
“Butthat,”saidPriscilla,“wouldbejustwishingthisworldwerelikeheaven.
