English
AnnehadbeenafortnightatGreenGablesbeforeMrs.Lyndearrivedtoinspecther.
Mrs.Rachel,todoherjustice,wasnottoblameforthis.
AsevereandunseasonableattackofgrippehadconfinedthatgoodladytoherhouseeversincetheoccasionofherlastvisittoGreenGables.
Mrs.Rachelwasnotoftensickandhadawell-definedcontemptforpeoplewhowere;butgrippe,sheasserted,waslikenootherillnessonearthandcouldonlybeinterpretedasoneofthespecialvisitationsofProvidence.
Assoonasherdoctorallowedhertoputherfootout-of-doorsshehurrieduptoGreenGables,burstingwithcuriositytoseeMatthewandMarilla’sorphan,concerningwhomallsortsofstoriesandsuppositionshadgoneabroadinAvonlea.
Annehadmadegooduseofeverywakingmomentofthatfortnight.
Alreadyshewasacquaintedwitheverytreeandshrubabouttheplace.
Shehaddiscoveredthatalaneopenedoutbelowtheappleorchardandranupthroughabeltofwoodland;andshehadexploredittoitsfurthestendinallitsdeliciousvagariesofbrookandbridge,fircoppiceandwildcherryarch,cornersthickwithfern,andbranchingbywaysofmapleandmountainash.
Shehadmadefriendswiththespringdowninthehollow—thatwonderfuldeep,clearicy-coldspring;itwassetaboutwithsmoothredsandstonesandrimmedinbygreatpalm-likeclumpsofwaterfern;andbeyonditwasalogbridgeoverthebrook.
ThatbridgeledAnne’sdancingfeetupoverawoodedhillbeyond,whereperpetualtwilightreignedunderthestraight,thick-growingfirsandspruces;theonlyflowersthereweremyriadsofdelicate“Junebells,”thoseshyestandsweetestofwoodlandblooms,andafewpale,aerialstarflowers,likethespiritsoflastyear’sblossoms.
Gossamersglimmeredlikethreadsofsilveramongthetreesandthefirboughsandtasselsseemedtoutterfriendlyspeech.
Alltheserapturedvoyagesofexplorationweremadeintheoddhalfhourswhichshewasallowedforplay,andAnnetalkedMatthewandMarillahalf-deafoverherdiscoveries.
NotthatMatthewcomplained,tobesure;helistenedtoitallwithawordlesssmileofenjoymentonhisface;Marillapermittedthe“chatter”untilshefoundherselfbecomingtoointerestedinit,whereuponshealwayspromptlyquenchedAnnebyacurtcommandtoholdhertongue.
AnnewasoutintheorchardwhenMrs.Rachelcame,wanderingatherownsweetwillthroughthelush,tremulousgrassessplashedwithruddyeveningsunshine;sothatgoodladyhadanexcellentchancetotalkherillnessfullyover,describingeveryacheandpulsebeatwithsuchevidentenjoymentthatMarillathoughtevengrippemustbringitscompensations.
WhendetailswereexhaustedMrs.Rachelintroducedtherealreasonofhercall.
“I’vebeenhearingsomesurprisingthingsaboutyouandMatthew.”
“Idon’tsupposeyouareanymoresurprisedthanIammyself,”saidMarilla.“I’mgettingovermysurprisenow.”
“Itwastoobadtherewassuchamistake,”saidMrs.Rachelsympathetically.“Couldn’tyouhavesentherback?”
“Isupposewecould,butwedecidednotto.Matthewtookafancytoher.
AndImustsayIlikehermyself—althoughIadmitshehasherfaults.
Thehouseseemsadifferentplacealready.She’sarealbrightlittlething.”
Marillasaidmorethanshehadintendedtosaywhenshebegan,forshereaddisapprovalinMrs.Rachel’sexpression.
“It’sagreatresponsibilityyou’vetakenonyourself,”saidthatladygloomily,“especiallywhenyou’veneverhadanyexperiencewithchildren.
Youdon’tknowmuchaboutherorherrealdisposition,Isuppose,andthere’snoguessinghowachildlikethatwillturnout.
ButIdon’twanttodiscourageyouI’msure,Marilla.”
“I’mnotfeelingdiscouraged,”wasMarilla’sdryresponse,“whenImakeupmymindtodoathingitstaysmadeup.Isupposeyou’dliketoseeAnne.I’llcallherin.”
Annecamerunninginpresently,herfacesparklingwiththedelightofherorchardrovings;but,abashedatfindingthedelightherselfintheunexpectedpresenceofastranger,shehaltedconfusedlyinsidethedoor.
Shecertainlywasanodd-lookinglittlecreatureintheshorttightwinceydressshehadwornfromtheasylum,belowwhichherthinlegsseemedungracefullylong.
Herfrecklesweremorenumerousandobtrusivethanever;thewindhadruffledherhatlesshairintoover-brilliantdisorder;ithadneverlookedredderthanatthatmoment.
“Well,theydidn’tpickyouforyourlooks,that’ssureandcertain,”wasMrs.RachelLynde’semphaticcomment.
Mrs.Rachelwasoneofthosedelightfulandpopularpeoplewhopridethemselvesonspeakingtheirmindwithoutfearorfavor.
“She’sterribleskinnyandhomely,Marilla.
Comehere,child,andletmehavealookatyou.
Lawfulheart,didanyoneeverseesuchfreckles?Andhairasredascarrots!Comehere,child,Isay.”
Anne“camethere,”butnotexactlyasMrs.Rachelexpected.
WithoneboundshecrossedthekitchenfloorandstoodbeforeMrs.Rachel,herfacescarletwithanger,herlipsquivering,andherwholeslenderformtremblingfromheadtofoot.
“Ihateyou,”shecriedinachokedvoice,stampingherfootonthefloor.
“Ihateyou—Ihateyou—Ihateyou—”alouderstampwitheachassertionofhatred.“Howdareyoucallmeskinnyandugly?
HowdareyousayI’mfreckledandredheaded?
Youarearude,impolite,unfeelingwoman!”
“Anne!”exclaimedMarillainconsternation.
ButAnnecontinuedtofaceMrs.Rachelundauntedly,headup,eyesblazing,handsclenched,passionateindignationexhalingfromherlikeanatmosphere.
“Howdareyousaysuchthingsaboutme?”sherepeatedvehemently.
“Howwouldyouliketohavesuchthingssaidaboutyou?
Howwouldyouliketobetoldthatyouarefatandclumsyandprobablyhadn’tasparkofimaginationinyou?
Idon’tcareifIdohurtyourfeelingsbysayingso!IhopeIhurtthem.
YouhavehurtmineworsethantheywereeverhurtbeforeevenbyMrs.Thomas’intoxicatedhusband.
AndI’llNEVERforgiveyouforit,never,never!”
Stamp!Stamp!
“Didanybodyeverseesuchatemper!”exclaimedthehorrifiedMrs.Rachel.
“AnnegotoyourroomandstaythereuntilIcomeup,”saidMarilla,recoveringherpowersofspeechwithdifficulty.
Anne,burstingintotears,rushedtothehalldoor,slammedituntilthetinsontheporchwalloutsiderattledinsympathy,andfledthroughthehallandupthestairslikeawhirlwind.
Asubduedslamabovetoldthatthedooroftheeastgablehadbeenshutwithequalvehemence.
“Well,Idon’tenvyyouyourjobbringingTHATup,Marilla,”saidMrs.Rachelwithunspeakablesolemnity.
Marillaopenedherlipstosaysheknewnotwhatofapologyordeprecation.Whatshedidsaywasasurprisetoherselfthenandeverafterwards.
“Youshouldn’thavetwittedheraboutherlooks,Rachel.”
“MarillaCuthbert,youdon’tmeantosaythatyouareupholdingherinsuchaterribledisplayoftemperaswe’vejustseen?”demandedMrs.Rachelindignantly.
“No,”saidMarillaslowly,“I’mnottryingtoexcuseher.
She’sbeenverynaughtyandI’llhavetogiveheratalkingtoaboutit.Butwemustmakeallowancesforher.She’sneverbeentaughtwhatisright.AndyouWEREtoohardonher,Rachel.”
Marillacouldnothelptackingonthatlastsentence,althoughshewasagainsurprisedatherselffordoingit.Mrs.Rachelgotupwithanairofoffendeddignity.
“Well,IseethatI’llhavetobeverycarefulwhatIsayafterthis,Marilla,sincethefinefeelingsoforphans,broughtfromgoodnessknowswhere,havetobeconsideredbeforeanythingelse.
Oh,no,I’mnotvexed—don’tworryyourself.
I’mtoosorryforyoutoleaveanyroomforangerinmymind.
You’llhaveyourowntroubleswiththatchild.
Butifyou’lltakemyadvice—whichIsupposeyouwon’tdo,althoughI’vebroughtuptenchildrenandburiedtwo—you’lldothat‘talkingto’youmentionwithafair-sizedbirchswitch.
IshouldthinkTHATwouldbethemosteffectivelanguageforthatkindofachild.HertempermatchesherhairIguess.Well,goodevening,Marilla.
Ihopeyou’llcomedowntoseemeoftenasusual.
Butyoucan’texpectmetovisithereagaininahurry,ifI’mliabletobeflownatandinsultedinsuchafashion.It’ssomethingnewinMYexperience.”
WhereatMrs.Rachelsweptoutandaway—ifafatwomanwhoalwayswaddledCOULDbesaidtosweepaway—andMarillawithaverysolemnfacebetookherselftotheeastgable.
Onthewayupstairsshepondereduneasilyastowhatsheoughttodo.
Shefeltnolittledismayoverthescenethathadjustbeenenacted.
HowunfortunatethatAnneshouldhavedisplayedsuchtemperbeforeMrs.RachelLynde,ofallpeople!
ThenMarillasuddenlybecameawareofanuncomfortableandrebukingconsciousnessthatshefeltmorehumiliationoverthisthansorrowoverthediscoveryofsuchaseriousdefectinAnne’sdisposition.Andhowwasshetopunishher?
Theamiablesuggestionofthebirchswitch—totheefficiencyofwhichallofMrs.Rachel’sownchildrencouldhavebornesmartingtestimony—didnotappealtoMarilla.
Shedidnotbelieveshecouldwhipachild.
No,someothermethodofpunishmentmustbefoundtobringAnnetoaproperrealizationoftheenormityofheroffense.
MarillafoundAnnefacedownwardonherbed,cryingbitterly,quiteobliviousofmuddybootsonacleancounterpane.
“Anne,”shesaidnotungently.
Noanswer.
“Anne,”withgreaterseverity,“getoffthatbedthisminuteandlistentowhatIhavetosaytoyou.”
Annesquirmedoffthebedandsatrigidlyonachairbesideit,herfaceswollenandtear-stainedandhereyesfixedstubbornlyonthefloor.
“Thisisanicewayforyoutobehave.Anne!Aren’tyouashamedofyourself?”
“Shehadn’tanyrighttocallmeuglyandredheaded,”retortedAnne,evasiveanddefiant.
“Youhadn’tanyrighttoflyintosuchafuryandtalkthewayyoudidtoher,Anne.
Iwasashamedofyou—thoroughlyashamedofyou.
IwantedyoutobehavenicelytoMrs.Lynde,andinsteadofthatyouhavedisgracedme.
I’msureIdon’tknowwhyyoushouldloseyourtemperlikethatjustbecauseMrs.Lyndesaidyouwerered-hairedandhomely.Yousayityourselfoftenenough.”
“Oh,butthere’ssuchadifferencebetweensayingathingyourselfandhearingotherpeoplesayit,”wailedAnne.
“Youmayknowathingisso,butyoucan’thelphopingotherpeopledon’tquitethinkitis.
IsupposeyouthinkIhaveanawfultemper,butIcouldn’thelpit.
Whenshesaidthosethingssomethingjustroserightupinmeandchokedme.IHADtoflyoutather.”
“Well,youmadeafineexhibitionofyourselfImustsay.
Mrs.Lyndewillhaveanicestorytotellaboutyoueverywhere—andshe’lltellit,too.
Itwasadreadfulthingforyoutoloseyourtemperlikethat,Anne.”
“Justimaginehowyouwouldfeelifsomebodytoldyoutoyourfacethatyouwereskinnyandugly,”pleadedAnnetearfully.
AnoldremembrancesuddenlyroseupbeforeMarilla.
Shehadbeenaverysmallchildwhenshehadheardoneauntsayofhertoanother,“Whatapitysheissuchadark,homelylittlething.”
Marillawaseverydayoffiftybeforethestinghadgoneoutofthatmemory.
“Idon’tsaythatIthinkMrs.Lyndewasexactlyrightinsayingwhatshedidtoyou,Anne,”sheadmittedinasoftertone.“Rachelistoooutspoken.
Butthatisnoexcuseforsuchbehavioronyourpart.
Shewasastrangerandanelderlypersonandmyvisitor—allthreeverygoodreasonswhyyoushouldhavebeenrespectfultoher.
Youwererudeandsaucyand”—Marillahadasavinginspirationofpunishment—”youmustgotoherandtellheryouareverysorryforyourbadtemperandaskhertoforgiveyou.”
“Icanneverdothat,”saidAnnedeterminedlyanddarkly.
“Youcanpunishmeinanywayyoulike,Marilla.
Youcanshutmeupinadark,dampdungeoninhabitedbysnakesandtoadsandfeedmeonlyonbreadandwaterandIshallnotcomplain.
ButIcannotaskMrs.Lyndetoforgiveme.”
“We’renotinthehabitofshuttingpeopleupindarkdampdungeons,”saidMarilladrily,“especiallyasthey’reratherscarceinAvonlea.
ButapologizetoMrs.Lyndeyoumustandshallandyou’llstayhereinyourroomuntilyoucantellmeyou’rewillingtodoit.”
“Ishallhavetostayhereforeverthen,”saidAnnemournfully,“becauseIcan’ttellMrs.LyndeI’msorryIsaidthosethingstoher.HowcanI?I’mNOTsorry.
I’msorryI’vevexedyou;butI’mGLADItoldherjustwhatIdid.Itwasagreatsatisfaction.
Ican’tsayI’msorrywhenI’mnot,canI?Ican’tevenIMAGINEI’msorry.”
“Perhapsyourimaginationwillbeinbetterworkingorderbythemorning,”saidMarilla,risingtodepart.
“You’llhavethenighttothinkoveryourconductinandcometoabetterframeofmind.
YousaidyouwouldtrytobeaverygoodgirlifwekeptyouatGreenGables,butImustsayithasn’tseemedverymuchlikeitthisevening.”
LeavingthisParthianshafttorankleinAnne’sstormybosom,Marilladescendedtothekitchen,grievouslytroubledinmindandvexedinsoul.
ShewasasangrywithherselfaswithAnne,because,wheneversherecalledMrs.Rachel’sdumbfoundedcountenanceherlipstwitchedwithamusementandshefeltamostreprehensibledesiretolaugh.
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