English
Marilla,walkinghomeonelateAprileveningfromanAidmeeting,realizedthatthewinterwasoverandgonewiththethrillofdelightthatspringneverfailstobringtotheoldestandsaddestaswellastotheyoungestandmerriest.
Marillawasnotgiventosubjectiveanalysisofherthoughtsandfeelings.
SheprobablyimaginedthatshewasthinkingabouttheAidsandtheirmissionaryboxandthenewcarpetforthevestryroom,butunderthesereflectionswasaharmoniousconsciousnessofredfieldssmokingintopale-purplymistsinthedecliningsun,oflong,sharp-pointedfirshadowsfallingoverthemeadowbeyondthebrook,ofstill,crimson-buddedmaplesaroundamirrorlikewoodpool,ofawakeningintheworldandastirofhiddenpulsesunderthegraysod.
ThespringwasabroadinthelandandMarilla’ssober,middle-agedstepwaslighterandswifterbecauseofitsdeep,primalgladness.
HereyesdweltaffectionatelyonGreenGables,peeringthroughitsnetworkoftreesandreflectingthesunlightbackfromitswindowsinseverallittlecoruscationsofglory.
Marilla,asshepickedherstepsalongthedamplane,thoughtthatitwasreallyasatisfactiontoknowthatshewasgoinghometoabrisklysnappingwoodfireandatablenicelyspreadfortea,insteadoftothecoldcomfortofoldAidmeetingeveningsbeforeAnnehadcometoGreenGables.
Consequently,whenMarillaenteredherkitchenandfoundthefireblackout,withnosignofAnneanywhere,shefeltjustlydisappointedandirritated.
ShehadtoldAnnetobesureandhaveteareadyatfiveo’clock,butnowshemusthurrytotakeoffhersecond-bestdressandpreparethemealherselfagainstMatthew’sreturnfromplowing.
“I’llsettleMissAnnewhenshecomeshome,”saidMarillagrimly,assheshavedupkindlingswithacarvingknifeandwithmorevimthanwasstrictlynecessary.
Matthewhadcomeinandwaswaitingpatientlyforhisteainhiscorner.
“She’sgaddingoffsomewherewithDiana,writingstoriesorpracticingdialoguesorsomesuchtomfoolery,andneverthinkingonceaboutthetimeorherduties.
She’sjustgottobepulledupshortandsuddenonthissortofthing.
Idon’tcareifMrs.Allandoessayshe’sthebrightestandsweetestchildsheeverknew.
Shemaybebrightandsweetenough,butherheadisfullofnonsenseandthere’sneveranyknowingwhatshapeit’llbreakoutinnext.
Justassoonasshegrowsoutofonefreakshetakesupwithanother.Butthere!
HereIamsayingtheverythingIwassoriledwithRachelLyndeforsayingattheAidtoday.
IwasrealgladwhenMrs.AllanspokeupforAnne,forifshehadn’tIknowI’dhavesaidsomethingtoosharptoRachelbeforeeverybody.
Anne’sgotplentyoffaults,goodnessknows,andfarbeitfrommetodenyit.
ButI’mbringingherupandnotRachelLynde,who’dpickfaultsintheAngelGabrielhimselfifhelivedinAvonlea.
Justthesame,AnnehasnobusinesstoleavethehouselikethiswhenItoldhershewastostayhomethisafternoonandlookafterthings.
Imustsay,withallherfaults,IneverfoundherdisobedientoruntrustworthybeforeandI’mrealsorrytofindhersonow.”
“Wellnow,Idunno,”saidMatthew,who,beingpatientandwiseand,aboveall,hungry,haddeemeditbesttoletMarillatalkherwrathoutunhindered,havinglearnedbyexperiencethatshegotthroughwithwhateverworkwasonhandmuchquickerifnotdelayedbyuntimelyargument.
“Perhapsyou’rejudginghertoohasty,Marilla.
Don’tcallheruntrustworthyuntilyou’resureshehasdisobeyedyou.
Mebbeitcanallbeexplained—Anne’sagreathandatexplaining.”
“She’snotherewhenItoldhertostay,”retortedMarilla.
“Ireckonshe’llfindithardtoexplainTHATtomysatisfaction.
OfcourseIknewyou’dtakeherpart,Matthew.ButI’mbringingherup,notyou.”
Itwasdarkwhensupperwasready,andstillnosignofAnne,cominghurriedlyoverthelogbridgeorupLover’sLane,breathlessandrepentantwithasenseofneglectedduties.
Marillawashedandputawaythedishesgrimly.
Then,wantingacandletolightherwaydownthecellar,shewentuptotheeastgablefortheonethatgenerallystoodonAnne’stable.
Lightingit,sheturnedaroundtoseeAnneherselflyingonthebed,facedownwardamongthepillows.
“Mercyonus,”saidastonishedMarilla,“haveyoubeenasleep,Anne?”
“No,”wasthemuffledreply.
“Areyousickthen?”demandedMarillaanxiously,goingovertothebed.
Annecowereddeeperintoherpillowsasifdesirousofhidingherselfforeverfrommortaleyes.
“No.Butplease,Marilla,goawayanddon’tlookatme.
I’minthedepthsofdespairandIdon’tcarewhogetsheadinclassorwritesthebestcompositionorsingsintheSunday-schoolchoiranymore.
LittlethingslikethatareofnoimportancenowbecauseIdon’tsupposeI’lleverbeabletogoanywhereagain.Mycareerisclosed.
Please,Marilla,goawayanddon’tlookatme.”
“Didanyoneeverhearthelike?”themystifiedMarillawantedtoknow.
“AnneShirley,whateveristhematterwithyou?Whathaveyoudone?Getrightupthisminuteandtellme.Thisminute,Isay.Therenow,whatisit?”
Annehadslidtothefloorindespairingobedience.
“Lookatmyhair,Marilla,”shewhispered.
Accordingly,MarillaliftedhercandleandlookedscrutinizinglyatAnne’shair,flowinginheavymassesdownherback.Itcertainlyhadaverystrangeappearance.
“AnneShirley,whathaveyoudonetoyourhair?Why,it’sGREEN!”
Greenitmightbecalled,ifitwereanyearthlycolor—aqueer,dull,bronzygreen,withstreakshereandthereoftheoriginalredtoheightentheghastlyeffect.
NeverinallherlifehadMarillaseenanythingsogrotesqueasAnne’shairatthatmoment.
“Yes,it’sgreen,”moanedAnne.“Ithoughtnothingcouldbeasbadasredhair.ButnowIknowit’stentimesworsetohavegreenhair.Oh,Marilla,youlittleknowhowutterlywretchedIam.”
“Ilittleknowhowyougotintothisfix,butImeantofindout,”saidMarilla.
“Comerightdowntothekitchen—it’stoocolduphere—andtellmejustwhatyou’vedone.
I’vebeenexpectingsomethingqueerforsometime.
Youhaven’tgotintoanyscrapeforovertwomonths,andIwassureanotheronewasdue.
Now,then,whatdidyoudotoyourhair?”
“Idyedit.”
“Dyedit!Dyedyourhair!AnneShirley,didn’tyouknowitwasawickedthingtodo?”
“Yes,Iknewitwasalittlewicked,”admittedAnne.
“ButIthoughtitwasworthwhiletobealittlewickedtogetridofredhair.Icountedthecost,Marilla.
Besides,Imeanttobeextragoodinotherwaystomakeupforit.”
“Well,”saidMarillasarcastically,“ifI’ddecideditwasworthwhiletodyemyhairI’dhavedyeditadecentcoloratleast.Iwouldn’thavedyeditgreen.”
“ButIdidn’tmeantodyeitgreen,Marilla,”protestedAnnedejectedly.
“IfIwaswickedImeanttobewickedtosomepurpose.
Hesaiditwouldturnmyhairabeautifulravenblack—hepositivelyassuredmethatitwould.HowcouldIdoubthisword,Marilla?
Iknowwhatitfeelsliketohaveyourworddoubted.
AndMrs.Allansaysweshouldneversuspectanyoneofnottellingusthetruthunlesswehaveproofthatthey’renot.
Ihaveproofnow—greenhairisproofenoughforanybody.
ButIhadn’tthenandIbelievedeverywordhesaidIMPLICITLY.”
“Whosaid?Whoareyoutalkingabout?”
“Thepeddlerthatwasherethisafternoon.Iboughtthedyefromhim.”
“AnneShirley,howoftenhaveItoldyounevertoletoneofthoseItaliansinthehouse!Idon’tbelieveinencouragingthemtocomearoundatall.”
“Oh,Ididn’tlethiminthehouse.Irememberedwhatyoutoldme,andIwentout,carefullyshutthedoor,andlookedathisthingsonthestep.
Besides,hewasn’tanItalian—hewasaGermanJew.
HehadabigboxfullofveryinterestingthingsandhetoldmehewasworkinghardtomakeenoughmoneytobringhiswifeandchildrenoutfromGermany.
Hespokesofeelinglyaboutthemthatittouchedmyheart.
Iwantedtobuysomethingfromhimtohelphiminsuchaworthyobject.
ThenallatonceIsawthebottleofhairdye.
Thepeddlersaiditwaswarrantedtodyeanyhairabeautifulravenblackandwouldn’twashoff.
InatriceIsawmyselfwithbeautifulraven-blackhairandthetemptationwasirresistible.
Butthepriceofthebottlewasseventy-fivecentsandIhadonlyfiftycentsleftoutofmychickenmoney.
Ithinkthepeddlerhadaverykindheart,forhesaidthat,seeingitwasme,he’dsellitforfiftycentsandthatwasjustgivingitaway.
SoIboughtit,andassoonashehadgoneIcameuphereandapplieditwithanoldhairbrushasthedirectionssaid.
Iusedupthewholebottle,andoh,Marilla,whenIsawthedreadfulcoloritturnedmyhairIrepentedofbeingwicked,Icantellyou.AndI’vebeenrepentingeversince.”
“Well,Ihopeyou’llrepenttogoodpurpose,”saidMarillaseverely,“andthatyou’vegotyoureyesopenedtowhereyourvanityhasledyou,Anne.Goodnessknowswhat’stobedone.
Isupposethefirstthingistogiveyourhairagoodwashingandseeifthatwilldoanygood.”
Accordingly,Annewashedherhair,scrubbingitvigorouslywithsoapandwater,butforallthedifferenceitmadeshemightaswellhavebeenscouringitsoriginalred.
Thepeddlerhadcertainlyspokenthetruthwhenhedeclaredthatthedyewouldn’twashoff,howeverhisveracitymightbeimpeachedinotherrespects.
“Oh,Marilla,whatshallIdo?”questionedAnneintears.“Icanneverlivethisdown.
Peoplehaveprettywellforgottenmyothermistakes—thelinimentcakeandsettingDianadrunkandflyingintoatemperwithMrs.Lynde.Butthey’llneverforgetthis.TheywillthinkIamnotrespectable.
Oh,Marilla,‘whatatangledwebweweavewhenfirstwepracticetodeceive.’Thatispoetry,butitistrue.Andoh,howJosiePyewilllaugh!Marilla,ICANNOTfaceJosiePye.
IamtheunhappiestgirlinPrinceEdwardIsland.”
Anne’sunhappinesscontinuedforaweek.
Duringthattimeshewentnowhereandshampooedherhaireveryday.
Dianaaloneofoutsidersknewthefatalsecret,butshepromisedsolemnlynevertotell,anditmaybestatedhereandnowthatshekeptherword.
AttheendoftheweekMarillasaiddecidedly:
“It’snouse,Anne.Thatisfastdyeifevertherewasany.Yourhairmustbecutoff;thereisnootherway.Youcan’tgooutwithitlookinglikethat.”
Anne’slipsquivered,butsherealizedthebittertruthofMarilla’sremarks.Withadismalsighshewentforthescissors.
“Pleasecutitoffatonce,Marilla,andhaveitover.Oh,Ifeelthatmyheartisbroken.Thisissuchanunromanticaffliction.
Thegirlsinbookslosetheirhairinfeversorsellittogetmoneyforsomegooddeed,andI’msureIwouldn’tmindlosingmyhairinsomesuchfashionhalfsomuch.
Butthereisnothingcomfortinginhavingyourhaircutoffbecauseyou’vedyeditadreadfulcolor,isthere?
I’mgoingtoweepallthetimeyou’recuttingitoff,ifitwon’tinterfere.Itseemssuchatragicthing.”
Anneweptthen,butlateron,whenshewentupstairsandlookedintheglass,shewascalmwithdespair.
Marillahaddoneherworkthoroughlyandithadbeennecessarytoshinglethehairascloselyaspossible.
Theresultwasnotbecoming,tostatethecaseasmildlyasmaybe.
Annepromptlyturnedherglasstothewall.
“I’llnever,neverlookatmyselfagainuntilmyhairgrows,”sheexclaimedpassionately.
Thenshesuddenlyrightedtheglass.
“Yes,Iwill,too.I’ddopenanceforbeingwickedthatway.
I’lllookatmyselfeverytimeIcometomyroomandseehowuglyIam.
AndIwon’ttrytoimagineitaway,either.
IneverthoughtIwasvainaboutmyhair,ofallthings,butnowIknowIwas,inspiteofitsbeingred,becauseitwassolongandthickandcurly.
Iexpectsomethingwillhappentomynosenext.”
Anne’sclippedheadmadeasensationinschoolonthefollowingMonday,buttoherreliefnobodyguessedtherealreasonforit,notevenJosiePye,who,however,didnotfailtoinformAnnethatshelookedlikeaperfectscarecrow.
“Ididn’tsayanythingwhenJosiesaidthattome,”AnneconfidedthateveningtoMarilla,whowaslyingonthesofaafteroneofherheadaches,“becauseIthoughtitwaspartofmypunishmentandIoughttobearitpatiently.
It’shardtobetoldyoulooklikeascarecrowandIwantedtosaysomethingback.ButIdidn’t.
IjustsweptheronescornfullookandthenIforgaveher.
Itmakesyoufeelveryvirtuouswhenyouforgivepeople,doesn’tit?
ImeantodevoteallmyenergiestobeinggoodafterthisandIshallnevertrytobebeautifulagain.Ofcourseit’sbettertobegood.
Iknowitis,butit’ssometimessohardtobelieveathingevenwhenyouknowit.
Idoreallywanttobegood,Marilla,likeyouandMrs.AllanandMissStacy,andgrowuptobeacredittoyou.
Dianasayswhenmyhairbeginstogrowtotieablackvelvetribbonaroundmyheadwithabowatoneside.
Shesaysshethinksitwillbeverybecoming.
Iwillcallitasnood—thatsoundssoromantic.ButamItalkingtoomuch,Marilla?Doesithurtyourhead?”
“Myheadisbetternow.Itwasterriblebadthisafternoon,though.
Theseheadachesofminearegettingworseandworse.I’llhavetoseeadoctoraboutthem.
Asforyourchatter,Idon’tknowthatImindit—I’vegotsousedtoit.”
WhichwasMarilla’swayofsayingthatshelikedtohearit.
Share this article to
FINISH