After breakfast Marilla made ready for her journey. Dora was to go with her, having been long promised this treat.
“Now, Davy, you try to be a good boy and don’t bother Anne,” she straitly charged him. “If you are good I’ll bring you a striped candy cane4 from town.”
“I won’t be bad on purpose, but s’posen I’m bad zacksidentally?” Davy wanted to know.
“You’ll have to guard against accidents,” admonished7 Marilla. “Anne, if Mr. Shearer8 comes today get a nice roast and some steak. If he doesn’t you’ll have to kill a fowl9 for dinner tomorrow.”
Anne nodded.
“I’m not going to bother cooking any dinner for just Davy and myself today,” she said. “That cold ham bone will do for noon lunch and I’ll have some steak fried for you when you come home at night.”
“I’m going to help Mr. Harrison haul dulse this morning,” announced Davy. “He asked me to, and I guess he’ll ask me to dinner too. Mr. Harrison is an awful kind man. He’s a real sociable10 man. I hope I’ll be like him when I grow up. I mean BEHAVE like him . . . I don’t want to LOOK like him. But I guess there’s no danger, for Mrs. Lynde says I’m a very handsome child. Do you s’pose it’ll last, Anne? I want to know?”
“I daresay it will,” said Anne gravely. “You ARE a handsome boy, Davy,”
. . . Marilla looked volumes of disapproval11 . . . “but you must live up to
it and be just as nice and gentlemanly as you look to be.”
“And you told Minnie May Barry the other day, when you found her crying ‘cause some one said she was ugly, that if she was nice and kind and loving people wouldn’t mind her looks,” said Davy discontentedly. “Seems to me you can’t get out of being good in this world for some reason or ‘nother. You just HAVE to behave.”
“Don’t you want to be good?” asked Marilla, who had learned a great deal but had not yet learned the futility12 of asking such questions.
“Yes, I want to be good but not TOO good,” said Davy cautiously. “You don’t have to be very good to be a Sunday School superintendent13. Mr. Bell’s that, and he’s a real bad man.”
“Indeed he’s not,” said Marila indignantly.
“He is . . . he says he is himself,” asseverated14 Davy. “He said it when he prayed in Sunday School last Sunday. He said he was a vile15 worm and a miserable16 sinner and guilty of the blackest ‘niquity. What did he do that was so bad, Marilla? Did he kill anybody? Or steal the collection cents? I want to know.”
Fortunately Mrs. Lynde came driving up the lane at this moment and Marilla made off, feeling that she had escaped from the snare17 of the fowler, and wishing devoutly18 that Mr. Bell were not quite so highly figurative in his public petitions, especially in the hearing of small boys who were always “wanting to know.”
Anne, left alone in her glory, worked with a will. The floor was swept, the beds made, the hens fed, the muslin dress washed and hung out on the line. Then Anne prepared for the transfer of feathers. She mounted to the garret and donned the first old dress that came to hand . . . a navy blue cashmere she had worn at fourteen. It was decidedly on the short side and as “skimpy” as the notable wincey Anne had worn upon the occasion of her debut19 at Green Gables; but at least it would not be materially injured by down and feathers. Anne completed her toilet by tying a big red and white spotted20 handkerchief that had belonged to Matthew over her head, and, thus accoutred, betook herself to the kitchen chamber21, whither Marilla, before her departure, had helped her carry the feather bed.
A cracked mirror hung by the chamber window and in an unlucky moment Anne looked into it. There were those seven freckles23 on her nose, more rampant24 than ever, or so it seemed in the glare of light from the unshaded window.
“Oh, I forgot to rub that lotion25 on last night,” she thought. “I’d better run down to the pantry and do it now.”
Anne had already suffered many things trying to remove those freckles. On one occasion the entire skin had peeled off her nose but the freckles remained. A few days previously26 she had found a recipe for a freckle22 lotion in a magazine and, as the ingredients were within her reach, she straightway compounded it, much to the disgust of Marilla, who thought that if Providence27 had placed freckles on your nose it was your bounden duty to leave them there.
Anne scurried28 down to the pantry, which, always dim from the big willow growing close to the window, was now almost dark by reason of the shade drawn29 to exclude flies. Anne caught the bottle containing the lotion from the shelf and copiously30 anointed her nose therewith by means of a little sponge sacred to the purpose. This important duty done, she returned to her work. Any one who has ever shifted feathers from one tick to another will not need to be told that when Anne finished she was a sight to behold31. Her dress was white with down and fluff, and her front hair, escaping from under the handkerchief, was adorned32 with a veritable halo of feathers. At this auspicious33 moment a knock sounded at the kitchen door.
“That must be Mr. Shearer,” thought Anne. “I’m in a dreadful mess but I’ll have to run down as I am, for he’s always in a hurry.”
Down flew Anne to the kitchen door. If ever a charitable floor did open to swallow up a miserable, befeathered damsel the Green Gables porch floor should promptly34 have engulfed35 Anne at that moment. On the doorstep were standing36 Priscilla Grant, golden and fair in silk attire37, a short, stout38 gray-haired lady in a tweed suit, and another lady, tall stately, wonderfully gowned, with a beautiful, highbred face and large, black-lashed violet eyes, whom Anne “instinctively40 felt,” as she would have said in her earlier days, to be Mrs. Charlotte E. Morgan.
In the dismay of the moment one thought stood out from the confusion of Anne’s mind and she grasped at it as at the proverbial straw. All Mrs. Morgan’s heroines were noted41 for “rising to the occasion.” No matter what their troubles were, they invariably rose to the occasion and showed their superiority over all ills of time, space, and quantity. Anne therefore felt it was HER duty to rise to the occasion and she did it, so perfectly42 that Priscilla afterward43 declared she never admired Anne Shirley more than at that moment. No matter what her outraged44 feelings were she did not show them. She greeted Priscilla and was introduced to her companions as calmly and composedly as if she had been arrayed in purple and fine linen45. To be sure, it was somewhat of a shock to find that the lady she had instinctively felt to be Mrs. Morgan was not Mrs. Morgan at all, but an unknown Mrs. Pendexter, while the stout little gray-haired woman was Mrs. Morgan; but in the greater shock the lesser46 lost its power. Anne ushered47 her guests to the spare room and thence into the parlor48, where she left them while she hastened out to help Priscilla unharness her horse.
“It’s dreadful to come upon you so unexpectedly as this,” apologized Priscilla, “but I did not know till last night that we were coming. Aunt Charlotte is going away Monday and she had promised to spend today with a friend in town. But last night her friend telephoned to her not to come because they were quarantined for scarlet49 fever. So I suggested we come here instead, for I knew you were longing50 to see her. We called at the White Sands Hotel and brought Mrs. Pendexter with us. She is a friend of aunt’s and lives in New York and her husband is a millionaire. We can’t stay very long, for Mrs. Pendexter has to be back at the hotel by five o’clock.”
Several times while they were putting away the horse Anne caught Priscilla looking at her in a furtive51, puzzled way.
“She needn’t stare at me so,” Anne thought a little resentfully. “If she doesn’t KNOW what it is to change a feather bed she might IMAGINE it.”
When Priscilla had gone to the parlor, and before Anne could escape upstairs, Diana walked into the kitchen. Anne caught her astonished friend by the arm.
“Diana Barry, who do you suppose is in that parlor at this very moment? Mrs. Charlotte E. Morgan . . . and a New York millionaire’s wife . . . and here I am like THIS . . . and NOT A THING IN THE HOUSE FOR DINNER BUT A COLD HAM BONE, Diana!”
By this time Anne had become aware that Diana was staring at her in precisely52 the same bewildered fashion as Priscilla had done. It was really too much.
“Oh, Diana, don’t look at me so,” she implored53. “YOU, at least, must know that the neatest person in the world couldn’t empty feathers from one tick into another and remain neat in the process.”
“It . . . it . . . isn’t the feathers,” hesitated Diana. “It’s . . . it’s . . . your nose, Anne.”
“My nose? Oh, Diana, surely nothing has gone wrong with it!”
Anne rushed to the little looking glass over the sink. One glance revealed the fatal truth. Her nose was a brilliant scarlet!
“I thought I was rubbing my freckle lotion on it, but I must have used that red dye Marilla has for marking the pattern on her rugs,” was the despairing response. “What shall I do?”
“Wash it off,” said Diana practically.
“Perhaps it won’t wash off. First I dye my hair; then I dye my nose. Marilla cut my hair off when I dyed it but that remedy would hardly be practicable in this case. Well, this is another punishment for vanity and I suppose I deserve it . . . though there’s not much comfort in THAT. It is really almost enough to make one believe in ill-luck, though Mrs. Lynde says there is no such thing, because everything is foreordained.”
Fortunately the dye washed off easily and Anne, somewhat consoled, betook herself to the east gable while Diana ran home. Presently Anne came down again, clothed and in her right mind. The muslin dress she had fondly hoped to wear was bobbing merrily about on the line outside, so she was forced to content herself with her black lawn. She had the fire on and the tea steeping when Diana returned; the latter wore HER muslin, at least, and carried a covered platter in her hand.
“Mother sent you this,” she said, lifting the cover and displaying a nicely carved and jointed56 chicken to Anne’s greatful eyes.
The chicken was supplemented by light new bread, excellent butter and cheese, Marilla’s fruit cake and a dish of preserved plums, floating in their golden syrup57 as in congealed58 summer sunshine. There was a big bowlful of pink-and-white asters also, by way of decoration; yet the spread seemed very meager59 beside the elaborate one formerly60 prepared for Mrs. Morgan.
Anne’s hungry guests, however, did not seem to think anything was lacking and they ate the simple viands61 with apparent enjoyment62. But after the first few moments Anne thought no more of what was or was not on her bill of fare. Mrs. Morgan’s appearance might be somewhat disappointing, as even her loyal worshippers had been forced to admit to each other; but she proved to be a delightful63 conversationalist. She had traveled extensively and was an excellent storyteller. She had seen much of men and women, and crystalized her experiences into witty64 little sentences and epigrams which made her hearers feel as if they were listening to one of the people in clever books. But under all her sparkle there was a strongly felt undercurrent of true, womanly sympathy and kindheartedness which won affection as easily as her brilliancy won admiration65. Nor did she monopolize66 the conversation. She could draw others out as skillfully and fully39 as she could talk herself, and Anne and Diana found themselves chattering67 freely to her. Mrs. Pendexter said little; she merely smiled with her lovely eyes and lips, and ate chicken and fruit cake and preserves with such exquisite68 grace that she conveyed the impression of dining on ambrosia69 and honeydew. But then, as Anne said to Diana later on, anybody so divinely beautiful as Mrs. Pendexter didn’t need to talk; it was enough for her just to LOOK.
After dinner they all had a walk through Lover’s Lane and Violet Vale and the Birch Path, then back through the Haunted Wood to the Dryad’s Bubble, where they sat down and talked for a delightful last half hour. Mrs. Morgan wanted to know how the Haunted Wood came by its name, and laughed until she cried when she heard the story and Anne’s dramatic account of a certain memorable70 walk through it at the witching hour of twilight71.
“It has indeed been a feast of reason and flow of soul, hasn’t it?” said Anne, when her guests had gone and she and Diana were alone again. “I don’t know which I enjoyed more . . . listening to Mrs. Morgan or gazing at Mrs. Pendexter. I believe we had a nicer time than if we’d known they were coming and been cumbered with much serving. You must stay to tea with me, Diana, and we’ll talk it all over.”
“Priscilla says Mrs. Pendexter’s husband’s sister is married to an English earl; and yet she took a second helping72 of the plum preserves,” said Diana, as if the two facts were somehow incompatible73.
“I daresay even the English earl himself wouldn’t have turned up his aristocratic nose at Marilla’s plum preserves,” said Anne proudly.
Anne did not mention the misfortune which had befallen HER nose when she related the day’s history to Marilla that evening. But she took the bottle of freckle lotion and emptied it out of the window.
“I shall never try any beautifying messes again,” she said, darkly resolute74. “They may do for careful, deliberate people; but for anyone so hopelessly given over to making mistakes as I seem to be it’s tempting75 fate to meddle76 with them.”
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1
blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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bribing
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| 贿赂 | |
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7
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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8
shearer
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| n.剪羊毛的人；剪切机 | |
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9
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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10
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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asseverated
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| v.郑重声明，断言( asseverate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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18
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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debut
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| n.首次演出，初次露面 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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freckle
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| n.雀簧；晒斑 | |
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freckles
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| n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 ) | |
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24
rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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lotion
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| n.洗剂 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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28
scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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46
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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49
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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52
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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53
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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56
jointed
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| 有接缝的 | |
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syrup
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| n.糖浆，糖水 | |
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congealed
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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60
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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61
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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ambrosia
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| n.神的食物；蜂食 | |
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70
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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72
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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73
incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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74
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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75
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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76
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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