Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery (distant reading .TXT) š
- Author: L. M. Montgomery
Book online Ā«Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery (distant reading .TXT) šĀ». Author L. M. Montgomery
Thursday the girls had a drive in the park, and in the evening Miss Barry took them to a concert in the Academy of Music, where a noted prima donna was to sing. To Anne the evening was a glittering vision of delight.
āOh, Marilla, it was beyond description. I was so excited I couldnāt even talk, so you may know what it was like. I just sat in enraptured silence. Madame Selitsky was perfectly beautiful, and wore white satin and diamonds. But when she began to sing I never thought about anything else. Oh, I canāt tell you how I felt. But it seemed to me that it could never be hard to be good any more. I felt like I do when I look up to the stars. Tears came into my eyes, but, oh, they were such happy tears. I was so sorry when it was all over, and I told Miss Barry I didnāt see how I was ever to return to common life again. She said she thought if we went over to the restaurant across the street and had an ice cream it might help me. That sounded so prosaic; but to my surprise I found it true. The ice cream was delicious, Marilla, and it was so lovely and dissipated to be sitting there eating it at eleven oāclock at night. Diana said she believed she was born for city life. Miss Barry asked me what my opinion was, but I said I would have to think it over very seriously before I could tell her what I really thought. So I thought it over after I went to bed. That is the best time to think things out. And I came to the conclusion, Marilla, that I wasnāt born for city life and that I was glad of it. Itās nice to be eating ice cream at brilliant restaurants at eleven oāclock at night once in a while; but as a regular thing Iād rather be in the east gable at eleven, sound asleep, but kind of knowing even in my sleep that the stars were shining outside and that the wind was blowing in the firs across the brook. I told Miss Barry so at breakfast the next morning and she laughed. Miss Barry generally laughed at anything I said, even when I said the most solemn things. I donāt think I liked it, Marilla, because I wasnāt trying to be funny. But she is a most hospitable lady and treated us royally.ā
Friday brought going-home time, and Mr. Barry drove in for the girls.
āWell, I hope youāve enjoyed yourselves,ā said Miss Barry, as she bade them goodbye.
āIndeed we have,ā said Diana.
āAnd you, Anne-girl?ā
āIāve enjoyed every minute of the time,ā said Anne, throwing her arms impulsively about the old womanās neck and kissing her wrinkled cheek. Diana would never have dared to do such a thing and felt rather aghast at Anneās freedom. But Miss Barry was pleased, and she stood on her veranda and watched the buggy out of sight. Then she went back into her big house with a sigh. It seemed very lonely, lacking those fresh young lives. Miss Barry was a rather selfish old lady, if the truth must be told, and had never cared much for anybody but herself. She valued people only as they were of service to her or amused her. Anne had amused her, and consequently stood high in the old ladyās good graces. But Miss Barry found herself thinking less about Anneās quaint speeches than of her fresh enthusiasms, her transparent emotions, her little winning ways, and the sweetness of her eyes and lips.
āI thought Marilla Cuthbert was an old fool when I heard sheād adopted a girl out of an orphan asylum,ā she said to herself, ābut I guess she didnāt make much of a mistake after all. If Iād a child like Anne in the house all the time Iād be a better and happier woman.ā
Anne and Diana found the drive home as pleasant as the drive inā āpleasanter, indeed, since there was the delightful consciousness of home waiting at the end of it. It was sunset when they passed through White Sands and turned into the shore road. Beyond, the Avonlea hills came out darkly against the saffron sky. Behind them the moon was rising out of the sea that grew all radiant and transfigured in her light. Every little cove along the curving road was a marvel of dancing ripples. The waves broke with a soft swish on the rocks below them, and the tang of the sea was in the strong, fresh air.
āOh, but itās good to be alive and to be going home,ā breathed Anne.
When she crossed the log bridge over the brook the kitchen light of Green Gables winked her a friendly welcome back, and through the open door shone the hearth fire, sending out its warm red glow athwart the chilly autumn night. Anne ran blithely up the hill and into the kitchen, where a hot supper was waiting on the table.
āSo youāve got back?ā said Marilla, folding up her knitting.
āYes, and oh, itās so good to be back,ā said Anne joyously. āI could kiss everything, even to the clock. Marilla,
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