Аня з Авонлеї
XIX. Just a Happy Day
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InthetwilightAnnesauntereddowntotheDryad’sBubbleandsawGilbertBlythecomingdownthroughtheduskyHauntedWood.ShehadasuddenrealizationthatGilbertwasaschoolboynolonger.Andhowmanlyhelooked—thetall,frank-facedfellow,withtheclear,straightforwardeyesandthebroadshoulders.AnnethoughtGilbertwasaveryhandsomelad,eventhoughhedidn’tlookatalllikeheridealman.SheandDianahadlongagodecidedwhatkindofamantheyadmiredandtheirtastesseemedexactlysimilar.Hemustbeverytallanddistinguishedlooking,withmelancholy,inscrutableeyes,andamelting,sympatheticvoice.TherewasnothingeithermelancholyorinscrutableinGilbert’sphysiognomy,butofcoursethatdidn’tmatterinfriendship!
GilbertstretchedhimselfoutonthefernsbesidetheBubbleandlookedapprovinglyatAnne.IfGilberthadbeenaskedtodescribehisidealwomanthedescriptionwouldhaveansweredpointforpointtoAnne,eventothoseseventinyfreckleswhoseobnoxiouspresencestillcontinuedtovexhersoul.Gilbertwasasyetlittlemorethanaboy;butaboyhashisdreamsashaveothers,andinGilbert’sfuturetherewasalwaysagirlwithbig,limpidgrayeyes,andafaceasfineanddelicateasaflower.Hehadmadeuphismind,also,thathisfuturemustbeworthyofitsgoddess.EveninquietAvonleathereweretemptationstobemetandfaced.WhiteSandsyouthwerearather“fast”set,andGilbertwaspopularwhereverhewent.
