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XXIX. Poetry and Prose
AndIdon’twanthertobelikeotherpeople.Therearetoomanyotherpeoplearoundasitis.YOUknow,teacher.”
CharlottatheFourthwasanotherradiantperson.
“Oh,MissShirley,ma’am,ithasallturnedoutsobeautiful.WhenMr.IrvingandMissLavendarcomebackfromtheirtowerI’mtogouptoBostonandlivewiththem...andmeonlyfifteen,andtheothergirlsneverwenttilltheyweresixteen.Ain’tMr.Irvingsplendid?Hejustworshipsthegroundshetreadsonanditmakesmefeelsoqueersometimestoseethelookinhiseyeswhenhe’swatchingher.Itbeggarsdescription,MissShirley,ma’am.I’mawfulthankfulthey’resofondofeachother.It’sthebestway,whenall’ssaidanddone,thoughsomefolkscangetalongwithoutit.I’vegotanauntwhohasbeenmarriedthreetimesandsaysshemarriedthefirsttimeforloveandthelasttwotimesforstrictlybusiness,andwashappywithallthreeexceptatthetimesofthefunerals.ButIthinkshetookaresk,MissShirley,ma’am.”
“Oh,it’sallsoromantic,”breathedAnnetoMarillathatnight.“IfIhadn’ttakenthewrongpaththatdaywewenttoMr.Kimball’sI’dneverhaveknownMissLavendar;andifIhadn’tmetherI’dneverhavetakenPaulthere...andhe’dneverhavewrittentohisfatheraboutvisitingMissLavendarjustasMr.IrvingwasstartingforSanFrancisco.Mr.IrvingsayswheneverhegotthatletterhemadeuphismindtosendhispartnertoSanFranciscoandcomehereinstead.Hehadn’theardanythingofMissLavendarforfifteenyears.
