English
ONtheMondayeveningbeforethepicnicMarillacamedownfromherroomwithatroubledface.
“Anne,”shesaidtothatsmallpersonage,whowasshellingpeasbythespotlesstableandsinging,“NellyoftheHazelDell”withavigorandexpressionthatdidcredittoDiana’steaching,“didyouseeanythingofmyamethystbrooch?
IthoughtIstuckitinmypincushionwhenIcamehomefromchurchyesterdayevening,butIcan’tfinditanywhere.”
“I—IsawitthisafternoonwhenyouwereawayattheAidSociety,”saidAnne,alittleslowly.“IwaspassingyourdoorwhenIsawitonthecushion,soIwentintolookatit.”
“Didyoutouchit?”saidMarillasternly.
“Y-e-e-s,”admittedAnne,“ItookitupandIpinneditonmybreastjusttoseehowitwouldlook.”
“Youhadnobusinesstodoanythingofthesort.
It’sverywronginalittlegirltomeddle.
Youshouldn’thavegoneintomyroominthefirstplaceandyoushouldn’thavetouchedabroochthatdidn’tbelongtoyouinthesecond.Wheredidyouputit?”
“Oh,Iputitbackonthebureau.Ihadn’titonaminute.
Truly,Ididn’tmeantomeddle,Marilla.
Ididn’tthinkaboutitsbeingwrongtogoinandtryonthebrooch;butIseenowthatitwasandI’llneverdoitagain.That’sonegoodthingaboutme.
Ineverdothesamenaughtythingtwice.”
“Youdidn’tputitback,”saidMarilla.“Thatbroochisn’tanywhereonthebureau.You’vetakenitoutorsomething,Anne.”
“Ididputitback,”saidAnnequickly—pertly,Marillathought.“Idon’tjustrememberwhetherIstuckitonthepincushionorlaiditinthechinatray.ButI’mperfectlycertainIputitback.”
“I’llgoandhaveanotherlook,”saidMarilla,determiningtobejust.“Ifyouputthatbroochbackit’stherestill.Ifitisn’tI’llknowyoudidn’t,that’sall!”
Marillawenttoherroomandmadeathoroughsearch,notonlyoverthebureaubutineveryotherplaceshethoughtthebroochmightpossiblybe.Itwasnottobefoundandshereturnedtothekitchen.
“Anne,thebroochisgone.Byyourownadmissionyouwerethelastpersontohandleit.Now,whathaveyoudonewithit?Tellmethetruthatonce.Didyoutakeitoutandloseit?”
“No,Ididn’t,”saidAnnesolemnly,meetingMarilla’sangrygazesquarely.
“Inevertookthebroochoutofyourroomandthatisthetruth,ifIwastobeledtotheblockforit—althoughI’mnotverycertainwhatablockis.Sothere,Marilla.”
Anne’s“sothere”wasonlyintendedtoemphasizeherassertion,butMarillatookitasadisplayofdefiance.
“Ibelieveyouaretellingmeafalsehood,Anne,”shesaidsharply.“Iknowyouare.
Therenow,don’tsayanythingmoreunlessyouarepreparedtotellthewholetruth.
Gotoyourroomandstaythereuntilyouarereadytoconfess.”
“WillItakethepeaswithme?”saidAnnemeekly.
“No,I’llfinishshellingthemmyself.DoasIbidyou.”
WhenAnnehadgoneMarillawentabouthereveningtasksinaverydisturbedstateofmind.
Shewasworriedabouthervaluablebrooch.WhatifAnnehadlostit?
Andhowwickedofthechildtodenyhavingtakenit,whenanybodycouldseeshemusthave!Withsuchaninnocentface,too!
“Idon’tknowwhatIwouldn’tsoonerhavehadhappen,”thoughtMarilla,asshenervouslyshelledthepeas.
“Ofcourse,Idon’tsupposeshemeanttostealitoranythinglikethat.
She’sjusttakenittoplaywithorhelpalongthatimaginationofhers.
Shemusthavetakenit,that’sclear,fortherehasn’tbeenasoulinthatroomsinceshewasinit,byherownstory,untilIwentuptonight.
Andthebroochisgone,there’snothingsurer.
Isupposeshehaslostitandisafraidtoownupforfearshe’llbepunished.
It’sadreadfulthingtothinkshetellsfalsehoods.
It’safarworsethingthanherfitoftemper.
It’safearfulresponsibilitytohaveachildinyourhouseyoucan’ttrust.
Slynessanduntruthfulness—that’swhatshehasdisplayed.
IdeclareIfeelworseaboutthatthanaboutthebrooch.
Ifshe’donlyhavetoldthetruthaboutitIwouldn’tmindsomuch.”
Marillawenttoherroomatintervalsallthroughtheeveningandsearchedforthebrooch,withoutfindingit.
Abedtimevisittotheeastgableproducednoresult.
AnnepersistedindenyingthatsheknewanythingaboutthebroochbutMarillawasonlythemorefirmlyconvincedthatshedid.
ShetoldMatthewthestorythenextmorning.Matthewwasconfoundedandpuzzled;hecouldnotsoquicklylosefaithinAnnebuthehadtoadmitthatcircumstanceswereagainsther.
“You’resureithasn’tfelldownbehindthebureau?”wastheonlysuggestionhecouldoffer.
“I’vemovedthebureauandI’vetakenoutthedrawersandI’velookedineverycrackandcranny”wasMarilla’spositiveanswer.
“Thebroochisgoneandthatchildhastakenitandliedaboutit.
That’stheplain,uglytruth,MatthewCuthbert,andwemightaswelllookitintheface.”
“Wellnow,whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?”Matthewaskedforlornly,feelingsecretlythankfulthatMarillaandnothehadtodealwiththesituation.Hefeltnodesiretoputhisoarinthistime.
“She’llstayinherroomuntilsheconfesses,”saidMarillagrimly,rememberingthesuccessofthismethodintheformercase.“Thenwe’llsee.
Perhapswe’llbeabletofindthebroochifshe’llonlytellwhereshetookit;butinanycaseshe’llhavetobeseverelypunished,Matthew.”
“Wellnow,you’llhavetopunishher,”saidMatthew,reachingforhishat.“I’venothingtodowithit,remember.Youwarnedmeoffyourself.”
Marillafeltdesertedbyeveryone.ShecouldnotevengotoMrs.Lyndeforadvice.
Shewentuptotheeastgablewithaveryseriousfaceandleftitwithafacemoreseriousstill.Annesteadfastlyrefusedtoconfess.
Shepersistedinassertingthatshehadnottakenthebrooch.
ThechildhadevidentlybeencryingandMarillafeltapangofpitywhichshesternlyrepressed.
Bynightshewas,assheexpressedit,“beatout.”
“You’llstayinthisroomuntilyouconfess,Anne.Youcanmakeupyourmindtothat,”shesaidfirmly.
“Butthepicnicistomorrow,Marilla,”criedAnne.
“Youwon’tkeepmefromgoingtothat,willyou?
You’lljustletmeoutfortheafternoon,won’tyou?
ThenI’llstayhereaslongasyoulikeAFTERWARDScheerfully.ButIMUSTgotothepicnic.”
“You’llnotgotopicnicsnoranywhereelseuntilyou’veconfessed,Anne.”
“Oh,Marilla,”gaspedAnne.
ButMarillahadgoneoutandshutthedoor.
Wednesdaymorningdawnedasbrightandfairasifexpresslymadetoorderforthepicnic.
BirdssangaroundGreenGables;theMadonnaliliesinthegardensentoutwhiffsofperfumethatenteredinonviewlesswindsateverydoorandwindow,andwanderedthroughhallsandroomslikespiritsofbenediction.
ThebirchesinthehollowwavedjoyfulhandsasifwatchingforAnne’susualmorninggreetingfromtheeastgable.ButAnnewasnotatherwindow.
WhenMarillatookherbreakfastuptohershefoundthechildsittingprimlyonherbed,paleandresolute,withtight-shutlipsandgleamingeyes.
“Marilla,I’mreadytoconfess.”
“Ah!”Marillalaiddownhertray.Onceagainhermethodhadsucceeded;buthersuccesswasverybittertoher.“Letmehearwhatyouhavetosaythen,Anne.”
“Itooktheamethystbrooch,”saidAnne,asifrepeatingalessonshehadlearned.“Itookitjustasyousaid.
Ididn’tmeantotakeitwhenIwentin.
Butitdidlooksobeautiful,Marilla,whenIpinneditonmybreastthatIwasovercomebyanirresistibletemptation.
IimaginedhowperfectlythrillingitwouldbetotakeittoIdlewildandplayIwastheLadyCordeliaFitzgerald.
ItwouldbesomucheasiertoimagineIwastheLadyCordeliaifIhadarealamethystbroochon.
DianaandImakenecklacesofroseberriesbutwhatareroseberriescomparedtoamethysts?SoItookthebrooch.
IthoughtIcouldputitbackbeforeyoucamehome.
Iwentallthewayaroundbytheroadtolengthenoutthetime.
WhenIwasgoingoverthebridgeacrosstheLakeofShiningWatersItookthebroochofftohaveanotherlookatit.Oh,howitdidshineinthesunlight!
Andthen,whenIwasleaningoverthebridge,itjustslippedthroughmyfingers—so—andwentdown—down—down,allpurply-sparkling,andsankforevermorebeneaththeLakeofShiningWaters.
Andthat’sthebestIcandoatconfessing,Marilla.”
Marillafelthotangersurgeupintoherheartagain.
Thischildhadtakenandlosthertreasuredamethystbroochandnowsattherecalmlyrecitingthedetailsthereofwithouttheleastapparentcompunctionorrepentance.
“Anne,thisisterrible,”shesaid,tryingtospeakcalmly.“YouaretheverywickedestgirlIeverheardof.”
“Yes,IsupposeIam,”agreedAnnetranquilly.“AndIknowI’llhavetobepunished.
It’llbeyourdutytopunishme,Marilla.
Won’tyoupleasegetitoverrightoffbecauseI’dliketogotothepicnicwithnothingonmymind.”
“Picnic,indeed!You’llgotonopicnictoday,AnneShirley.Thatshallbeyourpunishment.Anditisn’thalfsevereenougheitherforwhatyou’vedone!”
“Notgotothepicnic!”AnnesprangtoherfeetandclutchedMarilla’shand.“ButyouPROMISEDmeImight!Oh,Marilla,Imustgotothepicnic.ThatwaswhyIconfessed.Punishmeanywayyoulikebutthat.
Oh,Marilla,please,please,letmegotothepicnic.Thinkoftheicecream!
ForanythingyouknowImayneverhaveachancetotasteicecreamagain.”
MarilladisengagedAnne’sclinginghandsstonily.
“Youneedn’tplead,Anne.Youarenotgoingtothepicnicandthat’sfinal.No,notaword.”
AnnerealizedthatMarillawasnottobemoved.
Sheclaspedherhandstogether,gaveapiercingshriek,andthenflungherselffacedownwardonthebed,cryingandwrithinginanutterabandonmentofdisappointmentanddespair.
“Fortheland’ssake!”gaspedMarilla,hasteningfromtheroom.“Ibelievethechildiscrazy.
Nochildinhersenseswouldbehaveasshedoes.Ifsheisn’tshe’sutterlybad.
Ohdear,I’mafraidRachelwasrightfromthefirst.
ButI’veputmyhandtotheplowandIwon’tlookback.”
Thatwasadismalmorning.Marillaworkedfiercelyandscrubbedtheporchfloorandthedairyshelveswhenshecouldfindnothingelsetodo.
Neithertheshelvesnortheporchneededit—butMarilladid.Thenshewentoutandrakedtheyard.
WhendinnerwasreadyshewenttothestairsandcalledAnne.Atear-stainedfaceappeared,lookingtragicallyoverthebanisters.
“Comedowntoyourdinner,Anne.”
“Idon’twantanydinner,Marilla,”saidAnne,sobbingly.“Icouldn’teatanything.Myheartisbroken.
You’llfeelremorseofconsciencesomeday,Iexpect,forbreakingit,Marilla,butIforgiveyou.
RememberwhenthetimecomesthatIforgiveyou.
Butpleasedon’taskmetoeatanything,especiallyboiledporkandgreens.
Boiledporkandgreensaresounromanticwhenoneisinaffliction.”
Exasperated,MarillareturnedtothekitchenandpouredouthertaleofwoetoMatthew,who,betweenhissenseofjusticeandhisunlawfulsympathywithAnne,wasamiserableman.
“Wellnow,sheshouldn’thavetakenthebrooch,Marilla,ortoldstoriesaboutit,”headmitted,mournfullysurveyinghisplatefulofunromanticporkandgreensasifhe,likeAnne,thoughtitafoodunsuitedtocrisesoffeeling,“butshe’ssuchalittlething—suchaninterestinglittlething.
Don’tyouthinkit’sprettyroughnottolethergotothepicnicwhenshe’ssosetonit?”
“MatthewCuthbert,I’mamazedatyou.IthinkI’veletheroffentirelytooeasy.
Andshedoesn’tappeartorealizehowwickedshe’sbeenatall—that’swhatworriesmemost.
Ifshe’dreallyfeltsorryitwouldn’tbesobad.
Andyoudon’tseemtorealizeit,neither;you’remakingexcusesforherallthetimetoyourself—Icanseethat.”
“Wellnow,she’ssuchalittlething,”feeblyreiteratedMatthew.“Andthereshouldbeallowancesmade,Marilla.Youknowshe’sneverhadanybringingup.”
“Well,she’shavingitnow”retortedMarilla.
TheretortsilencedMatthewifitdidnotconvincehim.Thatdinnerwasaverydismalmeal.
TheonlycheerfulthingaboutitwasJerryBuote,thehiredboy,andMarillaresentedhischeerfulnessasapersonalinsult.
WhenherdisheswerewashedandherbreadspongesetandherhensfedMarillarememberedthatshehadnoticedasmallrentinherbestblacklaceshawlwhenshehadtakenitoffonMondayafternoononreturningfromtheLadies’Aid.
Shewouldgoandmendit.Theshawlwasinaboxinhertrunk.
AsMarillalifteditout,thesunlight,fallingthroughthevinesthatclusteredthicklyaboutthewindow,struckuponsomethingcaughtintheshawl—somethingthatglitteredandsparkledinfacetsofvioletlight.Marillasnatchedatitwithagasp.
Itwastheamethystbrooch,hangingtoathreadofthelacebyitscatch!
“Dearlifeandheart,”saidMarillablankly,“whatdoesthismean?
Here’smybroochsafeandsoundthatIthoughtwasatthebottomofBarry’spond.
Whateverdidthatgirlmeanbysayingshetookitandlostit?
IdeclareIbelieveGreenGablesisbewitched.
IremembernowthatwhenItookoffmyshawlMondayafternoonIlaiditonthebureauforaminute.
Isupposethebroochgotcaughtinitsomehow.Well!”
Marillabetookherselftotheeastgable,broochinhand.Annehadcriedherselfoutandwassittingdejectedlybythewindow.
“AnneShirley,”saidMarillasolemnly,“I’vejustfoundmybroochhangingtomyblacklaceshawl.NowIwanttoknowwhatthatrigmaroleyoutoldmethismorningmeant.”
“Why,yousaidyou’dkeepmehereuntilIconfessed,”returnedAnnewearily,“andsoIdecidedtoconfessbecauseIwasboundtogettothepicnic.
IthoughtoutaconfessionlastnightafterIwenttobedandmadeitasinterestingasIcould.
AndIsaiditoverandoversothatIwouldn’tforgetit.
Butyouwouldn’tletmegotothepicnicafterall,soallmytroublewaswasted.”
Marillahadtolaughinspiteofherself.Butherconscienceprickedher.
“Anne,youdobeatall!ButIwaswrong—Iseethatnow.
Ishouldn’thavedoubtedyourwordwhenI’dneverknownyoutotellastory.
Ofcourse,itwasn’trightforyoutoconfesstoathingyouhadn’tdone—itwasverywrongtodoso.ButIdroveyoutoit.
Soifyou’llforgiveme,Anne,I’llforgiveyouandwe’llstartsquareagain.
Andnowgetyourselfreadyforthepicnic.”
Anneflewuplikearocket.
“Oh,Marilla,isn’tittoolate?”
“No,it’sonlytwoo’clock.Theywon’tbemorethanwellgatheredyetandit’llbeanhourbeforetheyhavetea.
Washyourfaceandcombyourhairandputonyourgingham.I’llfillabasketforyou.
There’splentyofstuffbakedinthehouse.
AndI’llgetJerrytohitchupthesorrelanddriveyoudowntothepicnicground.”
“Oh,Marilla,”exclaimedAnne,flyingtothewashstand.“FiveminutesagoIwassomiserableIwaswishingI’dneverbeenbornandnowIwouldn’tchangeplaceswithanangel!”
Thatnightathoroughlyhappy,completelytired-outAnnereturnedtoGreenGablesinastateofbeatificationimpossibletodescribe.
“Oh,Marilla,I’vehadaperfectlyscrumptioustime.
ScrumptiousisanewwordIlearnedtoday.IheardMaryAliceBelluseit.Isn’titveryexpressive?Everythingwaslovely.
WehadasplendidteaandthenMr.HarmonAndrewstookusallforarowontheLakeofShiningWaters—sixofusatatime.AndJaneAndrewsnearlyfelloverboard.
ShewasleaningouttopickwaterliliesandifMr.Andrewshadn’tcaughtherbyhersashjustinthenickoftimeshe’dfalleninandprob’lybeendrowned.Iwishithadbeenme.
Itwouldhavebeensucharomanticexperiencetohavebeennearlydrowned.
Itwouldbesuchathrillingtaletotell.Andwehadtheicecream.
Wordsfailmetodescribethaticecream.Marilla,Iassureyouitwassublime.”
ThateveningMarillatoldthewholestorytoMatthewoverherstockingbasket.
“I’mwillingtoownupthatImadeamistake,”sheconcludedcandidly,“butI’velearnedalesson.
IhavetolaughwhenIthinkofAnne’s‘confession,’althoughIsupposeIshouldn’tforitreallywasafalsehood.
Butitdoesn’tseemasbadastheotherwouldhavebeen,somehow,andanyhowI’mresponsibleforit.
Thatchildishardtounderstandinsomerespects.
ButIbelieveshe’llturnoutallrightyet.
Andthere’sonethingcertain,nohousewilleverbedullthatshe’sin.”
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