Аня з Авонлеї
V. A Full-fledged Schoolma’am
“Shelookedlikeahead-oncollisionbetweenafashionplateandanightmare.”
Thenewcomerwasgorgeouslyarrayedinapalebluesummersilk,puffed,frilled,andshirredwhereverpuff,frill,orshirringcouldpossiblybeplaced.Herheadwassurmountedbyahugewhitechiffonhat,bedeckedwiththreelongbutratherstringyostrichfeathers.Aveilofpinkchiffon,lavishlysprinkledwithhugeblackdots,hunglikeaflouncefromthehatbrimtohershouldersandfloatedoffintwoairystreamersbehindher.Sheworeallthejewelrythatcouldbecrowdedononesmallwoman,andaverystrongodorofperfumeattendedher.
“IamMrs.DonNELL...Mrs.H.B.DonNELL,”announcedthisvision,“andIhavecomeintoseeyouaboutsomethingClariceAlmiratoldmewhenshecamehometodinnertoday.ItannoyedmeEXCESSIVELY.”
“I’msorry,”falteredAnne,vainlytryingtorecollectanyincidentofthemorningconnectedwiththeDonnellchildren.
“ClariceAlmiratoldmethatyoupronouncedournameDONnell.Now,MissShirley,thecorrectpronunciationofournameisDonNELL...accentonthelastsyllable.Ihopeyou’llrememberthisinfuture.”
“I’lltryto,”gaspedAnne,chokingbackawilddesiretolaugh.“Iknowbyexperiencethatit’sveryunpleasanttohaveone’snameSPELLEDwrongandIsupposeitmustbeevenworsetohaveitpronouncedwrong.”
“Certainlyitis.AndClariceAlmiraalsoinformedmethatyoucallmysonJacob.”
“HetoldmehisnamewasJacob,”protestedAnne.
“Imightwellhaveexpectedthat,”saidMrs.H.B.
