Аня з Авонлеї
IX. A Question of Color
lastFridaynightandfoundthatwehadplentyofmoneysubscribedtopaintthehallandshingletherooftoo.MOSTpeoplegaveveryliberally,Mr.Harrison.”
Annewasasweet-souledlass,butshecouldinstillsomevenomintoinnocentitalicswhenoccasionrequired.
“Whatcolorareyougoingtohaveit?”
“Wehavedecidedonaveryprettygreen.Theroofwillbedarkred,ofcourse.Mr.RogerPyeisgoingtogetthepaintintowntoday.”
“Who’sgotthejob?”
“Mr.JoshuaPyeofCarmody.Hehasnearlyfinishedtheshingling.Wehadtogivehimthecontract,foreveryoneofthePyes...andtherearefourfamilies,youknow...saidtheywouldn’tgiveacentunlessJoshuagotit.Theyhadsubscribedtwelvedollarsbetweenthemandwethoughtthatwastoomuchtolose,althoughsomepeoplethinkweshouldn’thavegivenintothePyes.Mrs.Lyndesaystheytrytoruneverything.”
“ThemainquestioniswillthisJoshuadohisworkwell.IfhedoesIdon’tseethatitmatterswhetherhisnameisPyeorPudding.”
“Hehasthereputationofbeingagoodworkman,thoughtheysayhe’saverypeculiarman.Hehardlyevertalks.”
“He’speculiarenoughallrightthen,”saidMr.Harrisondrily.“Oratleast,folksherewillcallhimso.IneverwasmuchofatalkertillIcametoAvonleaandthenIhadtobegininself-defenseorMrs.LyndewouldhavesaidIwasdumbandstartedasubscriptiontohavemetaughtsignlanguage.You’renotgoingyet,Anne?”
“Imust.IhavesomesewingtodoforDorathisevening.
