anne of the island-第25节
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congratulations died on his lips at sight of Anne's face。
〃Why； Anne； what is the matter？ I expected to find you radiant
over winning Rollings Reliable prize。 Good for you！〃
〃Oh； Gilbert； not you；〃 implored Anne； in an ET…TU BRUTE tone。
〃I thought YOU would understand。 Can't you see how awful it is？〃
〃I must confess I can't。 WHAT is wrong？〃
〃Everything；〃 moaned Anne。 〃I feel as if I were disgraced forever。
What do you think a mother would feel like if she found her
child tattooed over with a baking powder advertisement？
I feel just the same。 I loved my poor little story； and I
wrote it out of the best that was in me。 And it is SACRILEGE to
have it degraded to the level of a baking powder advertisement。
Don't you remember what Professor Hamilton used to tell us in the
literature class at Queen's？ He said we were never to write a
word for a low or unworthy motive； but always to cling to the
very highest ideals。 What will he think when he hears I've
written a story to advertise Rollings Reliable？ And； oh； when it
gets out at Redmond！ Think how I'll be teased and laughed at！〃
〃That you won't；〃 said Gilbert； wondering uneasily if it were
that confounded Junior's opinion in particular over which Anne
was worried。 〃The Reds will think just as I thought that you；
being like nine out of ten of us； not overburdened with worldly
wealth； had taken this way of earning an honest penny to help
yourself through the year。 I don't see that there's anything low
or unworthy about that； or anything ridiculous either。 One would
rather write masterpieces of literature no doubt but meanwhile
board and tuition fees have to be paid。〃
This commonsense； matter…of…fact view of the case cheered Anne a
little。 At least it removed her dread of being laughed at；
though the deeper hurt of an outraged ideal remained。
Chapter XVI
Adjusted Relationships
〃It's the homiest spot I ever saw it's homier than home；〃
avowed Philippa Gordon； looking about her with delighted eyes。
They were all assembled at twilight in the big living…room at
Patty's Place Anne and Priscilla； Phil and Stella； Aunt Jamesina；
Rusty； Joseph； the Sarah…Cat； and Gog and Magog。 The firelight
shadows were dancing over the walls； the cats were purring；
and a huge bowl of hothouse chrysanthemums； sent to Phil by one
of the victims； shone through the golden gloom like creamy moons。
It was three weeks since they had considered themselves settled；
and already all believed the experiment would be a success。 The
first fortnight after their return had been a pleasantly exciting
one； they had been busy setting up their household goods； organizing
their little establishment； and adjusting different opinions。
Anne was not over…sorry to leave Avonlea when the time came to
return to college。 The last few days of her vacation had not
been pleasant。 Her prize story had been published in the Island
papers； and Mr。 William Blair had； upon the counter of his
store； a huge pile of pink； green and yellow pamphlets；
containing it； one of which he gave to every customer。 He sent a
complimentary bundle to Anne； who promptly dropped them all in
the kitchen stove。 Her humiliation was the consequence of her
own ideals only； for Avonlea folks thought it quite splendid
that she should have won the prize。 Her many friends regarded
her with honest admiration； her few foes with scornful envy。
Josie Pye said she believed Anne Shirley had just copied the story；
she was sure she remembered reading it in a paper years before。
The Sloanes； who had found out or guessed that Charlie had been
〃turned down；〃 said they didn't think it was much to be proud of；
almost any one could have done it； if she tried。 Aunt Atossa
told Anne she was very sorry to hear she had taken to writing
novels； nobody born and bred in Avonlea would do it； that was
what came of adopting orphans from goodness knew where； with
goodness knew what kind of parents。 Even Mrs。 Rachel Lynde was
darkly dubious about the propriety of writing fiction； though she
was almost reconciled to it by that twenty…five dollar check。
〃It is perfectly amazing； the price they pay for such lies；
that's what；〃 she said； half…proudly； half…severely。
All things considered； it was a relief when going…away time came。
And it was very jolly to be back at Redmond； a wise； experienced
Soph with hosts of friends to greet on the merry opening day。
Pris and Stella and Gilbert were there； Charlie Sloane； looking
more important than ever a Sophomore looked before； Phil； with
the Alec…and…Alonzo question still unsettled； and Moody Spurgeon
MacPherson。 Moody Spurgeon had been teaching school ever since
leaving Queen's； but his mother had concluded it was high time
he gave it up and turned his attention to learning how to be a
minister。 Poor Moody Spurgeon fell on hard luck at the very
beginning of his college career。 Half a dozen ruthless Sophs；
who were among his fellow…boarders； swooped down upon him one
night and shaved half of his head。 In this guise the luckless
Moody Spurgeon had to go about until his hair grew again。 He
told Anne bitterly that there were times when he had his doubts
as to whether he was really called to be a minister。
Aunt Jamesina did not come until the girls had Patty's Place
ready for her。 Miss Patty had sent the key to Anne； with a
letter in which she said Gog and Magog were packed in a box under
the spare…room bed； but might be taken out when wanted； in a
postscript she added that she hoped the girls would be careful
about putting up pictures。 The living room had been newly
papered five years before and she and Miss Maria did not want any
more holes made in that new paper than was absolutely necessary。
For the rest she trusted everything to Anne。
How those girls enjoyed putting their nest in order！ As Phil said；
it was almost as good as getting married。 You had the fun of
homemaking without the bother of a husband。 All brought something
with them to adorn or make comfortable the little house。 Pris and
Phil and Stella had knick…knacks and pictures galore； which latter
they proceeded to hang according to taste； in reckless disregard
of Miss Patty's new paper。
〃We'll putty the holes up when we leave； dear she'll never know；〃
they said to protesting Anne。
Diana had given Anne a pine needle cushion and Miss Ada had given
both her and Priscilla a fearfully and wonderfully embroidered one。
Marilla had sent a big box of preserves； and darkly hinted at a
hamper for Thanksgiving； and Mrs。 Lynde gave Anne a patchwork quilt
and loaned her five more。
〃You take them；〃 she said authoritatively。 〃They might as well be
in use as packed away in that trunk in the garret for moths to gnaw。〃
No moths would ever have ventured near those quilts； for they
reeked of mothballs to such an extent that they had to be hung in
the orchard of Patty's Place a full fortnight before they could
be endured indoors。 Verily； aristocratic Spofford Avenue had
rarely beheld such a display。 The gruff old millionaire who
lived 〃next door〃 came over and wanted to buy the gorgeous red
and yellow 〃tulip…pattern〃 one which Mrs。 Rachel had given Anne。
He said his mother used to make quilts like that； and by Jove； he
wanted one to remind him of her。 Anne would not sell it； much to
his disappointment； but she wrote all about it to Mrs。 Lynde。
That highly…gratified lady sent word back that she had one just
like it to spare； so the tobacco king got his quilt after all；
and insisted on having it spread on his bed； to the disgust of
his fashionable wife。
Mrs。 Lynde's quilts served a very useful purpose that winter。
Patty's Place for all its many virtues； had its faults also。
It was really a rather cold house； and when the frosty nights
came the girls were very glad to snuggle down under Mrs。 Lynde's
quilts； and hoped that the loan of them might be accounted unto
her for righteousness。 Anne had the blue room she had coveted
at sight。 Priscilla and Stella had the large one。 Phil was
blissfully content with the little one over the kitchen； and
Aunt Jamesina was to have the downstairs one off the living…room。
Rusty at first slept on the doorstep。
Anne； walking home from Redmond a few days after her return；
became aware that the people that she met surveyed her with a
covert； indulgent smile。 Anne wondered uneasily what was the
matter with her。 Was her hat crooked？ Was her belt loose？
Craning her head to investigate； Anne； for the first time；
saw Rusty。
Trotting along behind her； close to her heels； was quite the
most forlorn specimen of the cat tribe she had ever beheld。
The animal was well past kitten…hood； lank； thin； disreputable
looking。 Pieces of both ears were lacking； one eye was
temporarily out of repair； and one jowl ludicrously swollen。
As for color；
