Аня з Авонлеї
XXI. Sweet Miss Lavendar
Willyougouptothespareroomandtakeoffyourhats?It’sthewhitedoorattheheadofthestairs.ImustrunouttothekitchenandseethatCharlottatheFourthisn’tlettingtheteaboil.CharlottatheFourthisaverygoodgirlbutsheWILLlettheteaboil.”
MissLavendartrippedofftothekitchenonhospitablethoughtsintentandthegirlsfoundtheirwayuptothespareroom,anapartmentaswhiteasitsdoor,lightedbytheivy-hungdormerwindowandlooking,asAnnesaid,liketheplacewherehappydreamsgrew.
“Thisisquiteanadventure,isn’tit?”saidDiana.“Andisn’tMissLavendarsweet,ifsheISalittleodd?Shedoesn’tlookabitlikeanoldmaid.”
“Shelooksjustasmusicsounds,Ithink,”answeredAnne.
WhentheywentdownMissLavendarwascarryingintheteapot,andbehindher,lookingvastlypleased,wasCharlottatheFourth,withaplateofhotbiscuits.
“Now,youmusttellmeyournames,”saidMissLavendar.“I’msogladyouareyounggirls.Iloveyounggirls.It’ssoeasytopretendI’magirlmyselfwhenI’mwiththem.Idohate”...withalittlegrimace...“tobelieveI’mold.Now,whoareyou...justforconvenience’sake?DianaBarry?AndAnneShirley?MayIpretendthatI’veknownyouforahundredyearsandcallyouAnneandDianarightaway?”
“You,may”thegirlssaidbothtogether.
“Thenjustlet’ssitcomfilydownandeateverything,”saidMissLavendarhappily.“Charlotta,yousitatthefootandhelpwiththechicken.ItissofortunatethatImadethespongecakeanddoughnuts.
