English
“Dearme,thereisnothingbutmeetingsandpartingsinthisworld,asMrs.Lyndesays,”remarkedAnneplaintively,puttingherslateandbooksdownonthekitchentableonthelastdayofJuneandwipingherredeyeswithaverydamphandkerchief.
“Wasn’titfortunate,Marilla,thatItookanextrahandkerchieftoschooltoday?
Ihadapresentimentthatitwouldbeneeded.”
“IneverthoughtyouweresofondofMr.Phillipsthatyou’drequiretwohandkerchiefstodryyourtearsjustbecausehewasgoingaway,”saidMarilla.
“Idon’tthinkIwascryingbecauseIwasreallysoveryfondofhim,”reflectedAnne.
“Ijustcriedbecausealltheothersdid.ItwasRubyGillisstartedit.
RubyGillishasalwaysdeclaredshehatedMr.Phillips,butjustassoonashegotuptomakehisfarewellspeechsheburstintotears.
Thenallthegirlsbegantocry,oneaftertheother.Itriedtoholdout,Marilla.
ItriedtorememberthetimeMr.PhillipsmademesitwithGil—witha,boy;andthetimehespelledmynamewithoutaneontheblackboard;andhowhesaidIwastheworstdunceheeversawatgeometryandlaughedatmyspelling;andallthetimeshehadbeensohorridandsarcastic;butsomehowIcouldn’t,Marilla,andIjusthadtocrytoo.
JaneAndrewshasbeentalkingforamonthabouthowgladshe’dbewhenMr.Phillipswentawayandshedeclaredshe’dnevershedatear.
Well,shewasworsethananyofusandhadtoborrowahandkerchieffromherbrother—ofcoursetheboysdidn’tcry—becauseshehadn’tbroughtoneofherown,notexpectingtoneedit.Oh,Marilla,itwasheartrending.
Mr.Phillipsmadesuchabeautifulfarewellspeechbeginning,‘Thetimehascomeforustopart.’Itwasveryaffecting.
Andhehadtearsinhiseyestoo,Marilla.
Oh,IfeltdreadfullysorryandremorsefulforallthetimesI’dtalkedinschoolanddrawnpicturesofhimonmyslateandmadefunofhimandPrissy.
IcantellyouIwishedI’dbeenamodelpupillikeMinnieAndrews.Shehadn’tanythingonherconscience.
Thegirlscriedallthewayhomefromschool.
CarrieSloanekeptsayingeveryfewminutes,‘Thetimehascomeforustopart,’andthatwouldstartusoffagainwheneverwewereinanydangerofcheeringup.Idofeeldreadfullysad,Marilla.
Butonecan’tfeelquiteinthedepthsofdespairwithtwomonths’vacationbeforethem,canthey,Marilla?
Andbesides,wemetthenewministerandhiswifecomingfromthestation.
ForallIwasfeelingsobadaboutMr.PhillipsgoingawayIcouldn’thelptakingalittleinterestinanewminister,couldI?Hiswifeisverypretty.
Notexactlyregallylovely,ofcourse—itwouldn’tdo,Isuppose,foraministertohavearegallylovelywife,becauseitmightsetabadexample.
Mrs.Lyndesaystheminister’swifeoveratNewbridgesetsaverybadexamplebecauseshedressessofashionably.
Ournewminister’swifewasdressedinbluemuslinwithlovelypuffedsleevesandahattrimmedwithroses.
JaneAndrewssaidshethoughtpuffedsleevesweretooworldlyforaminister’swife,butIdidn’tmakeanysuchuncharitableremark,Marilla,becauseIknowwhatitistolongforpuffedsleeves.
Besides,she’sonlybeenaminister’swifeforalittlewhile,sooneshouldmakeallowances,shouldn’tthey?
TheyaregoingtoboardwithMrs.Lyndeuntilthemanseisready.”
IfMarilla,ingoingdowntoMrs.Lynde’sthatevening,wasactuatedbyanymotivesaveheravowedoneofreturningthequiltingframesshehadborrowedtheprecedingwinter,itwasanamiableweaknesssharedbymostoftheAvonleapeople.
ManyathingMrs.Lyndehadlent,sometimesneverexpectingtoseeitagain,camehomethatnightinchargeoftheborrowersthereof.
Anewminister,andmoreoveraministerwithawife,wasalawfulobjectofcuriosityinaquietlittlecountrysettlementwheresensationswerefewandfarbetween.
OldMr.Bentley,theministerwhomAnnehadfoundlackinginimagination,hadbeenpastorofAvonleaforeighteenyears.
Hewasawidowerwhenhecame,andawidowerheremained,despitethefactthatgossipregularlymarriedhimtothis,that,ortheotherone,everyyearofhissojourn.
IntheprecedingFebruaryhehadresignedhischargeanddepartedamidtheregretsofhispeople,mostofwhomhadtheaffectionbornoflongintercoursefortheirgoodoldministerinspiteofhisshortcomingsasanorator.
SincethentheAvonleachurchhadenjoyedavarietyofreligiousdissipationinlisteningtothemanyandvariouscandidatesand“supplies”whocameSundayafterSundaytopreachontrial.
ThesestoodorfellbythejudgmentofthefathersandmothersinIsrael;butacertainsmall,red-hairedgirlwhosatmeeklyinthecorneroftheoldCuthbertpewalsohadheropinionsaboutthemanddiscussedthesameinfullwithMatthew,Marillaalwaysdecliningfromprincipletocriticizeministersinanyshapeorform.
“Idon’tthinkMr.Smithwouldhavedone,Matthew”wasAnne’sfinalsummingup.
“Mrs.Lyndesayshisdeliverywassopoor,butIthinkhisworstfaultwasjustlikeMr.Bentley’s—hehadnoimagination.
AndMr.Terryhadtoomuch;heletitrunawaywithhimjustasIdidmineinthematteroftheHauntedWood.
Besides,Mrs.Lyndesayshistheologywasn’tsound.
Mr.Greshamwasaverygoodmanandaveryreligiousman,buthetoldtoomanyfunnystoriesandmadethepeoplelaughinchurch;hewasundignified,andyoumusthavesomedignityaboutaminister,mustn’tyou,Matthew?
IthoughtMr.Marshallwasdecidedlyattractive;butMrs.Lyndesaysheisn’tmarried,orevenengaged,becauseshemadespecialinquiriesabouthim,andshesaysitwouldneverdotohaveayoungunmarriedministerinAvonlea,becausehemightmarryinthecongregationandthatwouldmaketrouble.
Mrs.Lyndeisaveryfarseeingwoman,isn’tshe,Matthew?I’mverygladthey’vecalledMr.Allan.
Ilikedhimbecausehissermonwasinterestingandheprayedasifhemeantitandnotjustasifhediditbecausehewasinthehabitofit.
Mrs.Lyndesaysheisn’tperfect,butshesaysshesupposeswecouldn’texpectaperfectministerforsevenhundredandfiftydollarsayear,andanyhowhistheologyissoundbecauseshequestionedhimthoroughlyonallthepointsofdoctrine.
Andsheknowshiswife’speopleandtheyaremostrespectableandthewomenareallgoodhousekeepers.
Mrs.Lyndesaysthatsounddoctrineinthemanandgoodhousekeepinginthewomanmakeanidealcombinationforaminister’sfamily.”
Thenewministerandhiswifewereayoung,pleasant-facedcouple,stillontheirhoneymoon,andfullofallgoodandbeautifulenthusiasmsfortheirchosenlifework.
Avonleaopeneditshearttothemfromthestart.
Oldandyounglikedthefrank,cheerfulyoungmanwithhishighideals,andthebright,gentlelittleladywhoassumedthemistress-shipofthemanse.
WithMrs.AllanAnnefellpromptlyandwholeheartedlyinlove.
Shehaddiscoveredanotherkindredspirit.
“Mrs.Allanisperfectlylovely,”sheannouncedoneSundayafternoon.
“She’stakenourclassandshe’sasplendidteacher.
Shesaidrightawayshedidn’tthinkitwasfairfortheteachertoaskallthequestions,andyouknow,Marilla,thatisexactlywhatI’vealwaysthought.
ShesaidwecouldaskheranyquestionwelikedandIaskedeversomany.I’mgoodataskingquestions,Marilla.”
“Ibelieveyou”wasMarilla’semphaticcomment.
“NobodyelseaskedanyexceptRubyGillis,andsheaskediftherewastobeaSunday-schoolpicnicthissummer.
Ididn’tthinkthatwasaveryproperquestiontoaskbecauseithadn’tanyconnectionwiththelesson—thelessonwasaboutDanielinthelions’den—butMrs.Allanjustsmiledandsaidshethoughttherewouldbe.
Mrs.Allanhasalovelysmile;shehassuchEXQUISITEdimplesinhercheeks.
IwishIhaddimplesinmycheeks,Marilla.
I’mnothalfsoskinnyasIwaswhenIcamehere,butIhavenodimplesyet.
IfIhadperhapsIcouldinfluencepeopleforgood.
Mrs.Allansaidweoughtalwaystotrytoinfluenceotherpeopleforgood.Shetalkedsoniceabouteverything.
Ineverknewbeforethatreligionwassuchacheerfulthing.
Ialwaysthoughtitwaskindofmelancholy,butMrs.Allan’sisn’t,andI’dliketobeaChristianifIcouldbeonelikeher.
Iwouldn’twanttobeonelikeMr.SuperintendentBell.”
“It’sverynaughtyofyoutospeaksoaboutMr.Bell,”saidMarillaseverely.“Mr.Bellisarealgoodman.”
“Oh,ofcoursehe’sgood,”agreedAnne,“buthedoesn’tseemtogetanycomfortoutofit.
IfIcouldbegoodI’ddanceandsingalldaybecauseIwasgladofit.
IsupposeMrs.Allanistoooldtodanceandsingandofcourseitwouldn’tbedignifiedinaminister’swife.
ButIcanjustfeelshe’sgladshe’saChristianandthatshe’dbeoneevenifshecouldgettoheavenwithoutit.”
“IsupposewemusthaveMr.andMrs.Allanuptoteasomedaysoon,”saidMarillareflectively.“They’vebeenmosteverywherebuthere.Letmesee.
NextWednesdaywouldbeagoodtimetohavethem.
Butdon’tsayawordtoMatthewaboutit,forifheknewtheywerecominghe’dfindsomeexcusetobeawaythatday.
He’dgotsousedtoMr.Bentleyhedidn’tmindhim,buthe’sgoingtofindithardtogetacquaintedwithanewminister,andanewminister’swifewillfrightenhimtodeath.”
“I’llbeassecretasthedead,”assuredAnne.
“Butoh,Marilla,willyouletmemakeacakefortheoccasion?
I’dlovetodosomethingforMrs.Allan,andyouknowIcanmakeaprettygoodcakebythistime.”
“Youcanmakealayercake,”promisedMarilla.
MondayandTuesdaygreatpreparationswentonatGreenGables.
Havingtheministerandhiswifetoteawasaseriousandimportantundertaking,andMarillawasdeterminednottobeeclipsedbyanyoftheAvonleahousekeepers.
Annewaswildwithexcitementanddelight.
ShetalkeditalloverwithDianaTuesdaynightinthetwilight,astheysatonthebigredstonesbytheDryad’sBubbleandmaderainbowsinthewaterwithlittletwigsdippedinfirbalsam.
“Everythingisready,Diana,exceptmycakewhichI’mtomakeinthemorning,andthebaking-powderbiscuitswhichMarillawillmakejustbeforeteatime.
Iassureyou,Diana,thatMarillaandIhavehadabusytwodaysofit.
It’ssucharesponsibilityhavingaminister’sfamilytotea.
Ineverwentthroughsuchanexperiencebefore.Youshouldjustseeourpantry.It’sasighttobehold.
We’regoingtohavejelliedchickenandcoldtongue.
We’retohavetwokindsofjelly,redandyellow,andwhippedcreamandlemonpie,andcherrypie,andthreekindsofcookies,andfruitcake,andMarilla’sfamousyellowplumpreservesthatshekeepsespeciallyforministers,andpoundcakeandlayercake,andbiscuitsasaforesaid;andnewbreadandoldboth,incasetheministerisdyspepticandcan’teatnew.
Mrs.Lyndesaysministersaredyspeptic,butIdon’tthinkMr.Allanhasbeenaministerlongenoughforittohavehadabadeffectonhim.
IjustgrowcoldwhenIthinkofmylayercake.
Oh,Diana,whatifitshouldn’tbegood!
IdreamedlastnightthatIwaschasedallaroundbyafearfulgoblinwithabiglayercakeforahead.”
“It’llbegood,allright,”assuredDiana,whowasaverycomfortablesortoffriend.“I’msurethatpieceoftheoneyoumadethatwehadforlunchinIdlewildtwoweeksagowasperfectlyelegant.”
“Yes;butcakeshavesuchaterriblehabitofturningoutbadjustwhenyouespeciallywantthemtobegood,”sighedAnne,settingaparticularlywell-balsamedtwigafloat.
“However,IsupposeIshalljusthavetotrusttoProvidenceandbecarefultoputintheflour.Oh,look,Diana,whatalovelyrainbow!
Doyousupposethedryadwillcomeoutafterwegoawayandtakeitforascarf?”
“Youknowthereisnosuchthingasadryad,”saidDiana.
Diana’smotherhadfoundoutabouttheHauntedWoodandhadbeendecidedlyangryoverit.
AsaresultDianahadabstainedfromanyfurtherimitativeflightsofimaginationanddidnotthinkitprudenttocultivateaspiritofbeliefeveninharmlessdryads.
“Butit’ssoeasytoimaginethereis,”saidAnne.
“EverynightbeforeIgotobed,Ilookoutofmywindowandwonderifthedryadisreallysittinghere,combingherlockswiththespringforamirror.
SometimesIlookforherfootprintsinthedewinthemorning.
Oh,Diana,don’tgiveupyourfaithinthedryad!”
Wednesdaymorningcame.Annegotupatsunrisebecauseshewastooexcitedtosleep.
Shehadcaughtaseverecoldintheheadbyreasonofherdabblinginthespringontheprecedingevening;butnothingshortofabsolutepneumoniacouldhavequenchedherinterestinculinarymattersthatmorning.
Afterbreakfastsheproceededtomakehercake.
Whenshefinallyshuttheovendooruponitshedrewalongbreath.
“I’msureIhaven’tforgottenanythingthistime,Marilla.Butdoyouthinkitwillrise?
Justsupposeperhapsthebakingpowderisn’tgood?Iuseditoutofthenewcan.
AndMrs.Lyndesaysyoucanneverbesureofgettinggoodbakingpowdernowadayswheneverythingissoadulterated.
Mrs.LyndesaystheGovernmentoughttotakethematterup,butshesayswe’llneverseethedaywhenaToryGovernmentwilldoit.
Marilla,whatifthatcakedoesn’trise?”
“We’llhaveplentywithoutit”wasMarilla’sunimpassionedwayoflookingatthesubject.
Thecakedidrise,however,andcameoutoftheovenaslightandfeatheryasgoldenfoam.
Anne,flushedwithdelight,clappedittogetherwithlayersofrubyjellyand,inimagination,sawMrs.Allaneatingitandpossiblyaskingforanotherpiece!
“You’llbeusingthebestteaset,ofcourse,Marilla,”shesaid.“CanIfixthetablewithfernsandwildroses?”
“Ithinkthat’sallnonsense,”sniffedMarilla.“Inmyopinionit’stheeatablesthatmatterandnotflummerydecorations.”
“Mrs.BarryhadHERtabledecorated,”saidAnne,whowasnotentirelyguiltlessofthewisdomoftheserpent,“andtheministerpaidheranelegantcompliment.
Hesaiditwasafeastfortheeyeaswellasthepalate.”
“Well,doasyoulike,”saidMarilla,whowasquitedeterminednottobesurpassedbyMrs.Barryoranybodyelse.“Onlymindyouleaveenoughroomforthedishesandthefood.”
AnnelaidherselfouttodecorateinamannerandafterafashionthatshouldleaveMrs.Barry’snowhere.
Havingabundanceofrosesandfernsandaveryartistictasteofherown,shemadethatteatablesuchathingofbeautythatwhentheministerandhiswifesatdowntoittheyexclaimedinchorusoveritloveliness.
“It’sAnne’sdoings,”saidMarilla,grimlyjust;andAnnefeltthatMrs.Allan’sapprovingsmilewasalmosttoomuchhappinessforthisworld.
Matthewwasthere,havingbeeninveigledintothepartyonlygoodnessandAnneknewhow.
HehadbeeninsuchastateofshynessandnervousnessthatMarillahadgivenhimupindespair,butAnnetookhiminhandsosuccessfullythathenowsatatthetableinhisbestclothesandwhitecollarandtalkedtotheministernotuninterestingly.
HeneversaidawordtoMrs.Allan,butthatperhapswasnottobeexpected.
AllwentmerryasamarriagebelluntilAnne’slayercakewaspassed.
Mrs.Allan,havingalreadybeenhelpedtoabewilderingvariety,declinedit.
ButMarilla,seeingthedisappointmentonAnne’sface,saidsmilingly:
“Oh,youmusttakeapieceofthis,Mrs.Allan.Annemadeitonpurposeforyou.”
“InthatcaseImustsampleit,”laughedMrs.Allan,helpingherselftoaplumptriangle,asdidalsotheministerandMarilla.
Mrs.Allantookamouthfulofhersandamostpeculiarexpressioncrossedherface;notaworddidshesay,however,butsteadilyateawayatit.
Marillasawtheexpressionandhastenedtotastethecake.
“AnneShirley!”sheexclaimed,“whatonearthdidyouputintothatcake?”
“Nothingbutwhattherecipesaid,Marilla,”criedAnnewithalookofanguish.“Oh,isn’titallright?”
“Allright!It’ssimplyhorrible.Mr.Allan,don’ttrytoeatit.Anne,tasteityourself.Whatflavoringdidyouuse?”
“Vanilla,”saidAnne,herfacescarletwithmortificationaftertastingthecake.“Onlyvanilla.Oh,Marilla,itmusthavebeenthebakingpowder.Ihadmysuspicionsofthatbak—”
“Bakingpowderfiddlesticks!Goandbringmethebottleofvanillayouused.”
Annefledtothepantryandreturnedwithasmallbottlepartiallyfilledwithabrownliquidandlabeledyellowly,“BestVanilla.”
Marillatookit,uncorkedit,smelledit.
“Mercyonus,Anne,you’veflavoredthatcakewithANODYNELINIMENT.
Ibrokethelinimentbottlelastweekandpouredwhatwasleftintoanoldemptyvanillabottle.
Isupposeit’spartlymyfault—Ishouldhavewarnedyou—butforpity’ssakewhycouldn’tyouhavesmelledit?”
Annedissolvedintotearsunderthisdoubledisgrace.
“Icouldn’t—Ihadsuchacold!”andwiththisshefairlyfledtothegablechamber,whereshecastherselfonthebedandweptasonewhorefusestobecomforted.
Presentlyalightstepsoundedonthestairsandsomebodyenteredtheroom.
“Oh,Marilla,”sobbedAnne,withoutlookingup,“I’mdisgracedforever.
Ishallneverbeabletolivethisdown.
Itwillgetout—thingsalwaysdogetoutinAvonlea.
DianawillaskmehowmycaketurnedoutandIshallhavetotellherthetruth.
Ishallalwaysbepointedatasthegirlwhoflavoredacakewithanodyneliniment.
Gil—theboysinschoolwillnevergetoverlaughingatit.
Oh,Marilla,ifyouhaveasparkofChristianpitydon’ttellmethatImustgodownandwashthedishesafterthis.
I’llwashthemwhentheministerandhiswifearegone,butIcannoteverlookMrs.Allaninthefaceagain.
Perhapsshe’llthinkItriedtopoisonher.
Mrs.Lyndesayssheknowsanorphangirlwhotriedtopoisonherbenefactor.Butthelinimentisn’tpoisonous.
It’smeanttobetakeninternally—althoughnotincakes.Won’tyoutellMrs.Allanso,Marilla?”
“Supposeyoujumpupandtellhersoyourself,”saidamerryvoice.
Anneflewup,tofindMrs.Allanstandingbyherbed,surveyingherwithlaughingeyes.
“Mydearlittlegirl,youmustn’tcrylikethis,”shesaid,genuinelydisturbedbyAnne’stragicface.“Why,it’salljustafunnymistakethatanybodymightmake.”
“Oh,no,ittakesmetomakesuchamistake,”saidAnneforlornly.“AndIwantedtohavethatcakesoniceforyou,Mrs.Allan.”
“Yes,Iknow,dear.AndIassureyouIappreciateyourkindnessandthoughtfulnessjustasmuchasifithadturnedoutallright.
Now,youmustn’tcryanymore,butcomedownwithmeandshowmeyourflowergarden.
MissCuthberttellsmeyouhavealittleplotallyourown.
Iwanttoseeit,forI’mverymuchinterestedinflowers.”
Annepermittedherselftobeleddownandcomforted,reflectingthatitwasreallyprovidentialthatMrs.Allanwasakindredspirit.
Nothingmorewassaidaboutthelinimentcake,andwhentheguestswentawayAnnefoundthatshehadenjoyedtheeveningmorethancouldhavebeenexpected,consideringthatterribleincident.Nevertheless,shesigheddeeply.
“Marilla,isn’titnicetothinkthattomorrowisanewdaywithnomistakesinityet?”
“I’llwarrantyou’llmakeplentyinit,”saidMarilla.“Ineversawyourbeatformakingmistakes,Anne.”
“Yes,andwellIknowit,”admittedAnnemournfully.“Buthaveyouevernoticedoneencouragingthingaboutme,Marilla?Inevermakethesamemistaketwice.”
“Idon’tknowasthat’smuchbenefitwhenyou’realwaysmakingnewones.”
“Oh,don’tyousee,Marilla?Theremustbealimittothemistakesonepersoncanmake,andwhenIgettotheendofthem,thenI’llbethroughwiththem.That’saverycomfortingthought.”
“Well,you’dbettergoandgivethatcaketothepigs,”saidMarilla.“Itisn’tfitforanyhumantoeat,notevenJerryBoute.”
Share this article to
FINISH