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anne of the island-第15章

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big pay I would conclude that I might as well order my ascension

robe ‘immediately and to onct。'  ‘Well; you get your money easy;'

some rate…payer will tell me; condescendingly。  ‘All you have to

do is to sit there and hear lessons。'  I used to argue the matter

at first; but I'm wiser now。  Facts are stubborn things; but

as some one has wisely said; not half so stubborn as fallacies。

So I only smile loftily now in eloquent silence。  Why; I have nine

grades in my school and I have to teach a little of everything;

from investigating the interiors of earthworms to the study of

the solar system。  My youngest pupil is four  his mother sends

him to school to ‘get him out of the way'  and my oldest twenty

 it ‘suddenly struck him' that it would be easier to go to

school and get an education than follow the plough any longer。

In the wild effort to cram all sorts of research into six hours a

day I don't wonder if the children feel like the little boy who

was taken to see the biograph。  ‘I have to look for what's coming

next before I know what went last;' he complained。  I feel like

that myself。



〃And the letters I get; Anne!  Tommy's mother writes me that

Tommy is not coming on in arithmetic as fast as she would like。

He is only in simple reduction yet; and Johnny Johnson is in

fractions; and Johnny isn't half as smart as her Tommy; and she

can't understand it。  And Susy's father wants to know why Susy

can't write a letter without misspelling half the words; and

Dick's aunt wants me to change his seat; because that bad Brown

boy he is sitting with is teaching him to say naughty words。



〃As to the financial part  but I'll not begin on that。  Those

whom the gods wish to destroy they first make country schoolmarms!



〃There; I feel better; after that growl。  After all; I've enjoyed

these past two years。  But I'm coming to Redmond。



〃And now; Anne; I've a little plan。  You know how I loathe boarding。

I've boarded for four years and I'm so tired of it。  I don't feel like

enduring three years more of it。



Now; why can't you and Priscilla and I club together; rent

a little house somewhere in Kingsport; and board ourselves?

It would be cheaper than any other way。  Of course; we would

have to have a housekeeper and I have one ready on the spot。

You've heard me speak of Aunt Jamesina?  She's the sweetest

aunt that ever lived; in spite of her name。  She can't help that!

She was called Jamesina because her father; whose name was James;

was drowned at sea a month before she was born。  I always call her

Aunt Jimsie。  Well; her only daughter has recently married and

gone to the foreign mission field。  Aunt Jamesina is left alone

in a great big house; and she is horribly lonesome。  She will

come to Kingsport and keep house for us if we want her; and I

know you'll both love her。  The more I think of the plan the more

I like it。  We could have such good; independent times。



〃Now; if you and Priscilla agree to it; wouldn't it be a good

idea for you; who are on the spot; to look around and see if you

can find a suitable house this spring?  That would be better than

leaving it till the fall。  If you could get a furnished one so

much the better; but if not; we can scare up a few sticks of

finiture between us and old family friends with attics。  Anyhow;

decide as soon as you can and write me; so that Aunt Jamesina

will know what plans to make for next year。〃



〃I think it's a good idea;〃 said Priscilla。



〃So do I;〃 agreed Anne delightedly。  〃Of course; we have a nice

boardinghouse here; but; when all's said and done; a boardinghouse

isn't home。  So let's go house…hunting at once; before exams come on。〃



〃I'm afraid it will be hard enough to get a really suitable house;〃

warned Priscilla。  〃Don't expect too much; Anne。  Nice houses in

nice localities will probably be away beyond our means。  We'll likely

have to content ourselves with a shabby little place on some street

whereon live people whom to know is to be unknown; and make life

inside compensate for the outside。〃



Accordingly they went house…hunting; but to find just what

they wanted proved even harder than Priscilla had feared。

Houses there were galore; furnished and unfurnished; but one

was too big; another too small; this one too expensive; that

one too far from Redmond。  Exams were on and over; the last

week of the term came and still their 〃house o'dreams;〃 as

Anne called it; remained a castle in the air。



〃We shall have to give up and wait till the fall; I suppose;〃 said

Priscilla wearily; as they rambled through the park on one of April's

darling days of breeze and blue; when the harbor was creaming and

shimmering beneath the pearl…hued mists floating over it。  〃We may

find some shack to shelter us then; and if not; boardinghouses we

shall have always with us。〃



〃I'm not going to worry about it just now; anyway; and spoil this

lovely afternoon;〃 said Anne; gazing around her with delight。

The fresh chill air was faintly charged with the aroma of pine

balsam; and the sky above was crystal clear and blue  a great

inverted cup of blessing。  〃Spring is singing in my blood today;

and the lure of April is abroad on the air。  I'm seeing visions

and dreaming dreams; Pris。  That's because the wind is from the

west。  I do love the west wind。  It sings of hope and gladness;

doesn't it?  When the east wind blows I always think of sorrowful

rain on the eaves and sad waves on a gray shore。  When I get old

I shall have rheumatism when the wind is east。〃



〃And isn't it jolly when you discard furs and winter garments

for the first time and sally forth; like this; in spring attire?〃

laughed Priscilla。  〃Don't you feel as if you had been made over new?〃



〃Everything is new in the spring;〃 said Anne。  〃Springs themselves

are always so new; too。  No spring is ever just like any other spring。

It always has something of its own to be its own peculiar sweetness。

See how green the grass is around that little pond; and how the willow

buds are bursting。〃



〃And exams are over and gone  the time of Convocation will come

soon  next Wednesday。  This day next week we'll be home。〃



〃I'm glad;〃 said Anne dreamily。  〃There are so many things I want

to do。  I want to sit on the back porch steps and feel the breeze

blowing down over Mr。 Harrison's fields。  I want to hunt ferns

in the Haunted Wood and gather violets in Violet Vale。  Do you

remember the day of our golden picnic; Priscilla?  I want to hear

the frogs singing and the poplars whispering。  But I've learned

to love Kingsport; too; and I'm glad I'm coming back next fall。

If I hadn't won the Thorburn I don't believe I could have。  I

COULDN'T take any of Marilla's little hoard。〃



〃If we could only find a house!〃 sighed Priscilla。  〃Look over

there at Kingsport; Anne  houses; houses everywhere; and not

one for us。〃



〃Stop it; Pris。  ‘The best is yet to be。'  Like the old Roman;

we'll find a house or build one。  On a day like this there's

no such word as fail in my bright lexicon。〃



They lingered in the park until sunset; living in the amazing

miracle and glory and wonder of the springtide; and they went

home as usual; by way of Spofford Avenue; that they might have

the delight of looking at Patty's Place。



〃I feel as if something mysterious were going to happen right

away  ‘by the pricking of my thumbs;' 〃 said Anne; as they went

up the slope。  〃It's a nice story…bookish feeling。  Why  why 

why!  Priscilla Grant; look over there and tell me if it's true;

or am I seein' things?〃



Priscilla looked。  Anne's thumbs and eyes had not deceived her。

Over the arched gateway of Patty's Place dangled a little; modest

sign。  It said 〃To Let; Furnished。  Inquire Within。〃



〃Priscilla;〃 said Anne; in a whisper; 〃do you suppose it's

possible that we could rent Patty's Place?〃



〃No; I don't;〃 averred Priscilla。  〃It would be too good to be

true。  Fairy tales don't happen nowadays。  I won't hope; Anne。

The disappointment would be too awful to bear。  They're sure to

want more for it than we can afford。  Remember; it's on Spofford

Avenue。〃



〃We must find out anyhow;〃 said Anne resolutely。  〃It's too late

to call this evening; but we'll come tomorrow。  Oh; Pris; if we

can get this darling spot!  I've always felt that my fortunes

were linked with Patty's Place; ever since I saw it first。〃









Chapter X



Patty's Place





The next evening found them treading resolutely the herring…bone

walk through the tiny garden。  The April wind was filling the

pine trees with its roundelay; and the grove was alive with robins

 great; plump; saucy fellows; strutting along the paths。

The girls rang rather timidly; and were admitted by a grim and

ancient handmaiden。  The door opened directly into a large

living…room; where by a cheery little fire sat two other ladies;

both of whom were also grim and ancient。  E
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