Аня з Авонлеї
XXII. Odds and Ends
“MiltyBoultersaysifyoudothatthingsareboundtogowrongwithyouallday.Hisgrandmothertoldhim.Butwhichistherightside?Andwhatareyoutodowhenyourbed’sagainstthewall?Iwanttoknow.”
“I’vealwayswonderedwhatwentwrongbetweenStephenIrvingandLavendarLewis,”continuedMarilla,ignoringDavy.“Theywerecertainlyengagedtwenty-fiveyearsagoandthenallatonceitwasbrokenoff.Idon’tknowwhatthetroublewasbutitmusthavebeensomethingterrible,forhewentawaytotheStatesandnevercomehomesince.”
“Perhapsitwasnothingverydreadfulafterall.Ithinkthelittlethingsinlifeoftenmakemoretroublethanthebigthings,”saidAnne,withoneofthoseflashesofinsightwhichexperiencecouldnothavebettered.“Marilla,pleasedon’tsayanythingaboutmybeingatMissLavendar’stoMrs.Lynde.She’dbesuretoaskahundredquestionsandsomehowIwouldn’tlikeit...norMissLavendareitherifsheknew,Ifeelsure.”
“IdaresayRachelwouldbecurious,”admittedMarilla,“thoughshehasn’tasmuchtimeassheusedtohaveforlookingafterotherpeople’saffairs.She’stiedhomenowonaccountofThomas;andshe’sfeelingprettydownhearted,forIthinkshe’sbeginningtolosehopeofhisevergettingbetter.Rachelwillbeleftprettylonelyifanythinghappenstohim,withallherchildrensettledoutwest,exceptElizaintown;andshedoesn’tlikeherhusband.”
Marilla’spronounsslanderedEliza,whowasveryfondofherhusband.
