Аня з Авонлеї
XXVII. An Afternoon at the Stone House
ShewasgladforMissLavendar’ssakeandforherowntoo.WithawholeweekinwhichtostudyAnneconstantlyshewouldsurelybeabletolearnhowtomoveandbehavelikeher.
WhenthegirlsgotbacktoEchoLodgetheyfoundthatMissLavendarandPaulhadcarriedthelittlesquaretableoutofthekitchentothegardenandhadeverythingreadyfortea.Nothingevertastedsodeliciousasthosestrawberriesandcream,eatenunderagreatblueskyallcurdledoverwithfluffylittlewhiteclouds,andinthelongshadowsofthewoodwithitslispingsanditsmurmurings.AfterteaAnnehelpedCharlottawashthedishesinthekitchen,whileMissLavendarsatonthestonebenchwithPaulandheardallabouthisrockpeople.Shewasagoodlistener,thissweetMissLavendar,butjustatthelastitstruckPaulthatshehadsuddenlylostinterestintheTwinSailors.
“MissLavendar,whydoyoulookatmelikethat?”heaskedgravely.
“HowdoIlook,Paul?”
“JustasifyouwerelookingthroughmeatsomebodyIputyouinmindof,”saidPaul,whohadsuchoccasionalflashesofuncannyinsightthatitwasn’tquitesafetohavesecretswhenhewasabout.
“YoudoputmeinmindofsomebodyIknewlongago,”saidMissLavendardreamily.
“Whenyouwereyoung?”
“Yes,whenIwasyoung.DoIseemveryoldtoyou,Paul?”
“Doyouknow,Ican’tmakeupmymindaboutthat,”saidPaulconfidentially.“Yourhairlooksold...Ineverknewayoungpersonwithwhitehair.Butyoureyesareasyoungasmybeautifulteacher’swhenyoulaugh.Itellyouwhat,MissLavendar”...
