English
“OFcourseyoumustbeElaine,Anne,”saidDiana.“Icouldneverhavethecouragetofloatdownthere.”
“NorI,”saidRubyGillis,withashiver.
“Idon’tmindfloatingdownwhenthere’stwoorthreeofusintheflatandwecansitup.It’sfunthen.
ButtoliedownandpretendIwasdead—Ijustcouldn’t.I’ddiereallyoffright.”
“Ofcourseitwouldberomantic,”concededJaneAndrews,“butIknowIcouldn’tkeepstill.
I’dbepoppingupeveryminuteorsotoseewhereIwasandifIwasn’tdriftingtoofarout.
Andyouknow,Anne,thatwouldspoiltheeffect.”
“Butit’ssoridiculoustohavearedheadedElaine,”mournedAnne.
“I’mnotafraidtofloatdownandI’dlovetobeElaine.Butit’sridiculousjustthesame.
RubyoughttobeElainebecausesheissofairandhassuchlovelylonggoldenhair—Elainehad‘allherbrighthairstreamingdown,’youknow.AndElainewasthelilymaid.
Now,ared-hairedpersoncannotbealilymaid.”
“YourcomplexionisjustasfairasRuby’s,”saidDianaearnestly,“andyourhairiseversomuchdarkerthanitusedtobebeforeyoucutit.”
“Oh,doyoureallythinkso?”exclaimedAnne,flushingsensitivelywithdelight.
“I’vesometimesthoughtitwasmyself—butIneverdaredtoaskanyoneforfearshewouldtellmeitwasn’t.
Doyouthinkitcouldbecalledauburnnow,Diana?”
“Yes,andIthinkitisrealpretty,”saidDiana,lookingadmiringlyattheshort,silkycurlsthatclusteredoverAnne’sheadandwereheldinplacebyaveryjauntyblackvelvetribbonandbow.
Theywerestandingonthebankofthepond,belowOrchardSlope,wherealittleheadlandfringedwithbirchesranoutfromthebank;atitstipwasasmallwoodenplatformbuiltoutintothewaterfortheconvenienceoffishermenandduckhunters.
RubyandJanewerespendingthemidsummerafternoonwithDiana,andAnnehadcomeovertoplaywiththem.
AnneandDianahadspentmostoftheirplaytimethatsummeronandaboutthepond.
Idlewildwasathingofthepast,Mr.Bellhavingruthlesslycutdownthelittlecircleoftreesinhisbackpastureinthespring.
Annehadsatamongthestumpsandwept,notwithoutaneyetotheromanceofit;butshewasspeedilyconsoled,for,afterall,assheandDianasaid,biggirlsofthirteen,goingonfourteen,weretoooldforsuchchildishamusementsasplayhouses,andthereweremorefascinatingsportstobefoundaboutthepond.
Itwassplendidtofishfortroutoverthebridgeandthetwogirlslearnedtorowthemselvesaboutinthelittleflat-bottomeddoryMr.Barrykeptforduckshooting.
ItwasAnne’sideathattheydramatizeElaine.
TheyhadstudiedTennyson’spoeminschooltheprecedingwinter,theSuperintendentofEducationhavingprescribeditintheEnglishcourseforthePrinceEdwardIslandschools.
Theyhadanalyzedandparseditandtornittopiecesingeneraluntilitwasawondertherewasanymeaningatallleftinitforthem,butatleastthefairlilymaidandLancelotandGuinevereandKingArthurhadbecomeveryrealpeopletothem,andAnnewasdevouredbysecretregretthatshehadnotbeenborninCamelot.
Thosedays,shesaid,weresomuchmoreromanticthanthepresent.
Anne’splanwashailedwithenthusiasm.Thegirlshaddiscoveredthatiftheflatwerepushedofffromthelandingplaceitwoulddriftdownwiththecurrentunderthebridgeandfinallystranditselfonanotherheadlandlowerdownwhichranoutatacurveinthepond.
TheyhadoftengonedownlikethisandnothingcouldbemoreconvenientforplayingElaine.
“Well,I’llbeElaine,”saidAnne,yieldingreluctantly,for,althoughshewouldhavebeendelightedtoplaytheprincipalcharacter,yetherartisticsensedemandedfitnessforitandthis,shefelt,herlimitationsmadeimpossible.
“Ruby,youmustbeKingArthurandJanewillbeGuinevereandDianamustbeLancelot.
Butfirstyoumustbethebrothersandthefather.
Wecan’thavetheolddumbservitorbecausethereisn’troomfortwointheflatwhenoneislyingdown.
Wemustpallthebargeallitslengthinblackestsamite.
Thatoldblackshawlofyourmother’swillbejustthething,Diana.”
Theblackshawlhavingbeenprocured,Annespreaditovertheflatandthenlaydownonthebottom,withclosedeyesandhandsfoldedoverherbreast.
“Oh,shedoeslookreallydead,”whisperedRubyGillisnervously,watchingthestill,whitelittlefaceundertheflickeringshadowsofthebirches.“Itmakesmefeelfrightened,girls.
Doyousupposeit’sreallyrighttoactlikethis?
Mrs.Lyndesaysthatallplay-actingisabominablywicked.”
“Ruby,youshouldn’ttalkaboutMrs.Lynde,”saidAnneseverely.
“ItspoilstheeffectbecausethisishundredsofyearsbeforeMrs.Lyndewasborn.Jane,youarrangethis.
It’ssillyforElainetobetalkingwhenshe’sdead.”
Janerosetotheoccasion.Clothofgoldforcoverlettherewasnone,butanoldpianoscarfofyellowJapanesecrepewasanexcellentsubstitute.
Awhitelilywasnotobtainablejustthen,buttheeffectofatallblueirisplacedinoneofAnne’sfoldedhandswasallthatcouldbedesired.
“Now,she’sallready,”saidJane.“Wemustkissherquietbrowsand,Diana,yousay,‘Sister,farewellforever,’andRuby,yousay,‘Farewell,sweetsister,’bothofyouassorrowfullyasyoupossiblycan.Anne,forgoodnesssakesmilealittle.
YouknowElaine‘layasthoughshesmiled.’That’sbetter.Nowpushtheflatoff.”
Theflatwasaccordinglypushedoff,scrapingroughlyoveranoldembeddedstakeintheprocess.
DianaandJaneandRubyonlywaitedlongenoughtoseeitcaughtinthecurrentandheadedforthebridgebeforescamperingupthroughthewoods,acrosstheroad,anddowntothelowerheadlandwhere,asLancelotandGuinevereandtheKing,theyweretobeinreadinesstoreceivethelilymaid.
ForafewminutesAnne,driftingslowlydown,enjoyedtheromanceofhersituationtothefull.
Thensomethinghappenednotatallromantic.Theflatbegantoleak.
InaveryfewmomentsitwasnecessaryforElainetoscrambletoherfeet,pickupherclothofgoldcoverletandpallofblackestsamiteandgazeblanklyatabigcrackinthebottomofherbargethroughwhichthewaterwasliterallypouring.
Thatsharpstakeatthelandinghadtornoffthestripofbattingnailedontheflat.
Annedidnotknowthis,butitdidnottakeherlongtorealizethatshewasinadangerousplight.
Atthisratetheflatwouldfillandsinklongbeforeitcoulddrifttothelowerheadland.Whereweretheoars?Leftbehindatthelanding!
Annegaveonegaspinglittlescreamwhichnobodyeverheard;shewaswhitetothelips,butshedidnotloseherself-possession.Therewasonechance—justone.
“Iwashorriblyfrightened,”shetoldMrs.Allanthenextday,“anditseemedlikeyearswhiletheflatwasdriftingdowntothebridgeandthewaterrisinginiteverymoment.
Iprayed,Mrs.Allan,mostearnestly,butIdidn’tshutmyeyestopray,forIknewtheonlywayGodcouldsavemewastolettheflatfloatcloseenoughtooneofthebridgepilesformetoclimbuponit.
Youknowthepilesarejustoldtreetrunksandtherearelotsofknotsandoldbranchstubsonthem.
Itwaspropertopray,butIhadtodomypartbywatchingoutandrightwellIknewit.
Ijustsaid,‘DearGod,pleasetaketheflatclosetoapileandI’lldotherest,’overandoveragain.
Undersuchcircumstancesyoudon’tthinkmuchaboutmakingafloweryprayer.
Butminewasanswered,fortheflatbumpedrightintoapileforaminuteandIflungthescarfandtheshawlovermyshoulderandscrambleduponabigprovidentialstub.
AndthereIwas,Mrs.Allan,clingingtothatslipperyoldpilewithnowayofgettingupordown.
Itwasaveryunromanticposition,butIdidn’tthinkaboutthatatthetime.
Youdon’tthinkmuchaboutromancewhenyouhavejustescapedfromawaterygrave.
IsaidagratefulprayeratonceandthenIgaveallmyattentiontoholdingontight,forIknewIshouldprobablyhavetodependonhumanaidtogetbacktodryland.”
Theflatdriftedunderthebridgeandthenpromptlysankinmidstream.
Ruby,Jane,andDiana,alreadyawaitingitonthelowerheadland,sawitdisappearbeforetheirveryeyesandhadnotadoubtbutthatAnnehadgonedownwithit.
Foramomenttheystoodstill,whiteassheets,frozenwithhorroratthetragedy;then,shriekingatthetopsoftheirvoices,theystartedonafranticrunupthroughthewoods,neverpausingastheycrossedthemainroadtoglancethewayofthebridge.
Anne,clingingdesperatelytoherprecariousfoothold,sawtheirflyingformsandheardtheirshrieks.
Helpwouldsooncome,butmeanwhileherpositionwasaveryuncomfortableone.
Theminutespassedby,eachseeminganhourtotheunfortunatelilymaid.Whydidn’tsomebodycome?Wherehadthegirlsgone?Supposetheyhadfainted,oneandall!Supposenobodyevercame!
Supposeshegrewsotiredandcrampedthatshecouldholdonnolonger!
Annelookedatthewickedgreendepthsbelowher,waveringwithlong,oilyshadows,andshivered.
Herimaginationbegantosuggestallmannerofgruesomepossibilitiestoher.
Then,justasshethoughtshereallycouldnotenduretheacheinherarmsandwristsanothermoment,GilbertBlythecamerowingunderthebridgeinHarmonAndrews’sdory!
Gilbertglancedupand,muchtohisamazement,beheldalittlewhitescornfulfacelookingdownuponhimwithbig,frightenedbutalsoscornfulgrayeyes.
“AnneShirley!Howonearthdidyougetthere?”heexclaimed.
Withoutwaitingforananswerhepulledclosetothepileandextendedhishand.
Therewasnohelpforit;Anne,clingingtoGilbertBlythe’shand,scrambleddownintothedory,whereshesat,drabbledandfurious,inthesternwithherarmsfullofdrippingshawlandwetcrepe.
Itwascertainlyextremelydifficulttobedignifiedunderthecircumstances!
“Whathashappened,Anne?”askedGilbert,takinguphisoars.
“WewereplayingElaine”explainedAnnefrigidly,withoutevenlookingatherrescuer,“andIhadtodriftdowntoCamelotinthebarge—Imeantheflat.
TheflatbegantoleakandIclimbedoutonthepile.Thegirlswentforhelp.
Willyoubekindenoughtorowmetothelanding?”
GilbertobliginglyrowedtothelandingandAnne,disdainingassistance,sprangnimblyonshore.
“I’mverymuchobligedtoyou,”shesaidhaughtilyassheturnedaway.ButGilberthadalsosprungfromtheboatandnowlaidadetaininghandonherarm.
“Anne,”hesaidhurriedly,“lookhere.Can’twebegoodfriends?
I’mawfullysorryImadefunofyourhairthattime.
Ididn’tmeantovexyouandIonlymeantitforajoke.Besides,it’ssolongago.
Ithinkyourhairisawfullyprettynow—honestIdo.Let’sbefriends.”
ForamomentAnnehesitated.Shehadanodd,newlyawakenedconsciousnessunderallheroutrageddignitythatthehalf-shy,half-eagerexpressioninGilbert’shazeleyeswassomethingthatwasverygoodtosee.
Herheartgaveaquick,queerlittlebeat.
Butthebitternessofheroldgrievancepromptlystiffenedupherwaveringdetermination.
Thatsceneoftwoyearsbeforeflashedbackintoherrecollectionasvividlyasifithadtakenplaceyesterday.
Gilberthadcalledher“carrots”andhadbroughtaboutherdisgracebeforethewholeschool.
Herresentment,whichtootherandolderpeoplemightbeaslaughableasitscause,wasinnowhitallayedandsoftenedbytimeseemingly.ShehatedGilbertBlythe!Shewouldneverforgivehim!
“No,”shesaidcoldly,“Ishallneverbefriendswithyou,GilbertBlythe;andIdon’twanttobe!”
“Allright!”Gilbertsprangintohisskiffwithanangrycolorinhischeeks.“I’llneveraskyoutobefriendsagain,AnneShirley.AndIdon’tcareeither!”
Hepulledawaywithswiftdefiantstrokes,andAnnewentupthesteep,fernylittlepathunderthemaples.
Sheheldherheadveryhigh,butshewasconsciousofanoddfeelingofregret.
ShealmostwishedshehadansweredGilbertdifferently.
Ofcourse,hehadinsultedherterribly,butstill—!
Altogether,Anneratherthoughtitwouldbearelieftositdownandhaveagoodcry.
Shewasreallyquiteunstrung,forthereactionfromherfrightandcrampedclingingwasmakingitselffelt.
HalfwayupthepathshemetJaneandDianarushingbacktothepondinastatenarrowlyremovedfrompositivefrenzy.
TheyhadfoundnobodyatOrchardSlope,bothMr.andMrs.Barrybeingaway.
HereRubyGillishadsuccumbedtohysterics,andwaslefttorecoverfromthemasbestshemight,whileJaneandDianaflewthroughtheHauntedWoodandacrossthebrooktoGreenGables.
Theretheyhadfoundnobodyeither,forMarillahadgonetoCarmodyandMatthewwasmakinghayinthebackfield.
“Oh,Anne,”gaspedDiana,fairlyfallingontheformer’sneckandweepingwithreliefanddelight,“oh,Anne—wethought—youwere—drowned—andwefeltlikemurderers—becausewehadmade—yoube—Elaine.
AndRubyisinhysterics—oh,Anne,howdidyouescape?”
“Iclimbedupononeofthepiles,”explainedAnnewearily,“andGilbertBlythecamealonginMr.Andrews’sdoryandbroughtmetoland.”
“Oh,Anne,howsplendidofhim!Why,it’ssoromantic!”saidJane,findingbreathenoughforutteranceatlast.“Ofcourseyou’llspeaktohimafterthis.”
“OfcourseIwon’t,”flashedAnne,withamomentaryreturnofheroldspirit.
“AndIdon’twantevertoheartheword‘romantic’again,JaneAndrews.
I’mawfullysorryyouweresofrightened,girls.Itisallmyfault.
IfeelsureIwasbornunderanunluckystar.
EverythingIdogetsmeormydearestfriendsintoascrape.
We’vegoneandlostyourfather’sflat,Diana,andIhaveapresentimentthatwe’llnotbeallowedtorowonthepondanymore.”
Anne’spresentimentprovedmoretrustworthythanpresentimentsareapttodo.GreatwastheconsternationintheBarryandCuthberthouseholdswhentheeventsoftheafternoonbecameknown.
“Willyoueverhaveanysense,Anne?”groanedMarilla.
“Oh,yes,IthinkIwill,Marilla,”returnedAnneoptimistically.
Agoodcry,indulgedinthegratefulsolitudeoftheeastgable,hadsoothedhernervesandrestoredhertoherwontedcheerfulness.
“Ithinkmyprospectsofbecomingsensiblearebrighternowthanever.”
“Idon’tseehow,”saidMarilla.
“Well,”explainedAnne,“I’velearnedanewandvaluablelessontoday.
EversinceIcametoGreenGablesI’vebeenmakingmistakes,andeachmistakehashelpedtocuremeofsomegreatshortcoming.
Theaffairoftheamethystbroochcuredmeofmeddlingwiththingsthatdidn’tbelongtome.
TheHauntedWoodmistakecuredmeoflettingmyimaginationrunawaywithme.
Thelinimentcakemistakecuredmeofcarelessnessincooking.Dyeingmyhaircuredmeofvanity.
Ineverthinkaboutmyhairandnosenow—atleast,veryseldom.
Andtoday’smistakeisgoingtocuremeofbeingtooromantic.
IhavecometotheconclusionthatitisnousetryingtoberomanticinAvonlea.
ItwasprobablyeasyenoughintoweredCamelothundredsofyearsago,butromanceisnotappreciatednow.
Ifeelquitesurethatyouwillsoonseeagreatimprovementinmeinthisrespect,Marilla.”
“I’msureIhopeso,”saidMarillaskeptically.
ButMatthew,whohadbeensittingmutelyinhiscorner,laidahandonAnne’sshoulderwhenMarillahadgoneout.
“Don’tgiveupallyourromance,Anne,”hewhisperedshyly,“alittleofitisagoodthing—nottoomuch,ofcourse—butkeepalittleofit,Anne,keepalittleofit.”
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