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VI. All Sorts and Conditions of Men... and women
Tobesure,wheneverCatherinecaughtEliza’seyeshediscardedthesmileinguiltyconfusion;butitcreptbackthenextmoment.
“IfIhadmoneytowaste,”saidElizagrimly,“I’dburnitupandhavethefunofseeingablazemaybe;butIwouldn’tgiveittothathall,notacent.It’snobenefittothesettlement...justaplaceforyoungfolkstomeetandcarryonwhenthey’sbetterbehomeintheirbeds.”
“Oh,Eliza,youngfolksmusthavesomeamusement,”protestedCatherine.
“Idon’tseethenecessity.Wedidn’tgadabouttohallsandplaceswhenwewereyoung,CatherineAndrews.Thisworldisgettingworseeveryday.”
“Ithinkit’sgettingbetter,”saidCatherinefirmly.
“YOUthink!”MissEliza’svoiceexpressedtheutmostcontempt.“Itdoesn’tsignifywhatyouTHINK,CatherineAndrews.Factsisfacts.”
“Well,Ialwaysliketolookonthebrightside,Eliza.”
“Thereisn’tanybrightside.”
“Oh,indeedthereis,”criedAnne,whocouldn’tenduresuchheresyinsilence.“Why,thereareeversomanybrightsides,MissAndrews.It’sreallyabeautifulworld.”
“Youwon’thavesuchahighopinionofitwhenyou’velivedaslonginitasIhave,”retortedMissElizasourly,“andyouwon’tbesoenthusiasticaboutimprovingiteither.Howisyourmother,Diana?Dearme,butshehasfailedoflate.Shelooksterriblerundown.AndhowlongisitbeforeMarillaexpectstobestoneblind,Anne?”
“Thedoctorthinkshereyeswillnotgetanyworseifsheisverycareful,”falteredAnne.
Elizashookherhead.
