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XXVI. Around the Bend
Anne,she’sfeelingdreadfulbadoveragoodmanythings.She’snotleftverywelloff.Itseemstheymortgagedthefarmeightyearsagotogivetheyoungestboyastartwhenhewentwest;andthey’veneverbeenabletopaymuchmorethantheinterestsince.AndthenofcourseThomas’illnesshascostagooddeal,onewayoranother.ThefarmwillhavetobesoldandRachelthinksthere’llbehardlyanythingleftafterthebillsaresettled.Shesaysshe’llhavetogoandlivewithElizaandit’sbreakingherhearttothinkofleavingAvonlea.Awomanofheragedoesn’tmakenewfriendsandinterestseasy.And,Anne,asshetalkedaboutitthethoughtcametomethatIwouldaskhertocomeandlivewithme,butIthoughtIoughttotalkitoverwithyoufirstbeforeIsaidanythingtoher.IfIhadRachellivingwithmeyoucouldgotocollege.Howdoyoufeelaboutit?”
“Ifeel...asif...somebody...hadhandedme...themoon...andIdidn’tknow...exactly...whattodo...withit,”saidAnnedazedly.“ButasforaskingMrs.Lyndetocomehere,thatisforyoutodecide,Marilla.Doyouthink...areyousure...youwouldlikeit?Mrs.Lyndeisagoodwomanandakindneighbor,but...but...”
“Butshe’sgotherfaults,youmeantosay?Well,shehas,ofcourse;butIthinkI’dratherputupwithfarworsefaultsthanseeRachelgoawayfromAvonlea.I’dmissherterrible.She’stheonlyclosefriendI’vegothereandI’dbelostwithouther.We’vebeenneighborsforforty-fiveyearsandwe’veneverhadaquarrel...
