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XV. The Beginning of Vacation
TheAvonleagraveyardwasasyetthegrass-grownsolitudeithadalwaysbeen.Tobesure,theImprovershadaneyeonit,andPriscillaGranthadreadapaperoncemeteriesbeforethelastmeetingoftheSociety.AtsomefuturetimetheImproversmeanttohavethelichened,waywardoldboardfencereplacedbyaneatwirerailing,thegrassmownandtheleaningmonumentsstraightenedup.
AnneputonMatthew’sgravetheflowersshehadbroughtforit,andthenwentovertothelittlepoplarshadedcornerwhereHesterGrayslept.EversincethedayofthespringpicnicAnnehadputflowersonHester’sgravewhenshevisitedMatthew’s.TheeveningbeforeshehadmadeapilgrimagebacktothelittledesertedgardeninthewoodsandbroughttherefromsomeofHester’sownwhiteroses.
“Ithoughtyouwouldlikethembetterthananyothers,dear,”shesaidsoftly.
AnnewasstillsittingtherewhenashadowfelloverthegrassandshelookeduptoseeMrs.Allan.Theywalkedhometogether.
Mrs.Allan’sfacewasnotthefaceofthegirlbridewhomtheministerhadbroughttoAvonleafiveyearsbefore.Ithadlostsomeofitsbloomandyouthfulcurves,andtherewerefine,patientlinesabouteyesandmouth.Atinygraveinthatverycemeteryaccountedforsomeofthem;andsomenewoneshadcomeduringtherecentillness,nowhappilyover,ofherlittleson.ButMrs.Allan’sdimpleswereassweetandsuddenasever,hereyesasclearandbrightandtrue;andwhatherfacelackedofgirlishbeautywasnowmorethanatonedforinaddedtendernessandstrength.
