登陆注册
4281100000064

第64章

The girls were so surprised that they forgot good manners and simply stared. They had unconsciously been expecting to see the usual type of elderly spinster as known to their experience . . .a rather angular personage, with prim gray hair and spectacles.

Nothing more unlike Miss Lavendar could possibly be imagined.

She was a little lady with snow-white hair beautifully wavy and thick, and carefully arranged in becoming puffs and coils. Beneath it was an almost girlish face, pink cheeked and sweet lipped, with big soft brown eyes and dimples. . .actually dimples. She wore a very dainty gown of cream muslin with pale-hued roses on it. . .a gown which would have seemed ridiculously juvenile on most women of her age, but which suited Miss Lavendar so perfectly that you never thought about it at all.

"Charlotta the Fourth says that you wished to see me," she said, in a voice that matched her appearance.

"We wanted to ask the right road to West Grafton," said Diana.

"We are invited to tea at Mr. Kimball's, but we took the wrong path coming through the woods and came out to the base line instead of the West Grafton road. Do we take the right or left turning at your gate?""The left," said Miss Lavendar, with a hesitating glance at her tea table.

Then she exclaimed, as if in a sudden little burst of resolution,"But oh, won't you stay and have tea with me? Please, do.

Mr. Kimball's will have tea over before you get there.

And Charlotta the Fourth and I will be so glad to have you."Diana looked mute inquiry at Anne.

"We'd like to stay," said Anne promptly, for she had made up her mind that she wanted to know more of this surprising Miss Lavendar, "if it won't inconvenience you. But you are expecting other guests, aren't you?"Miss Lavendar looked at her tea table again, and blushed.

"I know you'll think me dreadfully foolish," she said. "I AMfoolish. . .and I'm ashamed of it when I'm found out, but never unless I AM found out. I'm not expecting anybody. . .I was just pretending I was. You see, I was so lonely. I love company. . .

that is, the right kind of company. . .but so few people ever come here because it is so far out of the way. Charlotta the Fourth was lonely too. So I just pretended I was going to have a tea party. I cooked for it. . .and decorated the table for it. . .

and set it with my mother's wedding china . . .and I dressed up for it." Diana secretly thought Miss Lavendar quite as peculiar as report had pictured her. The idea of a woman of forty-five playing at having a tea party, just as if she were a little girl!

But Anne of the shining eyes exclaimed joyfuly, "Oh, do YOU imagine things too?"That "too" revealed a kindred spirit to Miss Lavendar.

"Yes, I do," she confessed, boldly. "Of course it's silly in anybody as old as I am. But what is the use of being an independent old maid if you can't be silly when you want to, and when it doesn't hurt anybody?

A person must have some compensations. I don't believe I could live at times if I didn't pretend things. I'm not often caught at it though, and Charlotta the Fourth never tells. But I'm glad to be caught today, for you have really come and I have tea all ready for you. Will you go up to the spare room and take off your hats? It's the white door at the head of the stairs. I must run out to the kitchen and see that Charlotta the Fourth isn't letting the tea boil. Charlotta the Fourth is a very good girl but she WILL let the tea boil."Miss Lavendar tripped off to the kitchen on hospitable thoughts intent and the girls found their way up to the spare room, an apartment as white as its door, lighted by the ivy-hung dormer window and looking, as Anne said, like the place where happy dreams grew.

"This is quite an adventure, isn't it?" said Diana. "And isn't Miss Lavendar sweet, if she IS a little odd? She doesn't look a bit like an old maid.""She looks just as music sounds, I think," answered Anne.

When they went down Miss Lavendar was carrying in the teapot, and behind her, looking vastly pleased, was Charlotta the Fourth, with a plate of hot biscuits.

"Now, you must tell me your names," said Miss Lavendar. "I'm so glad you are young girls. I love young girls. It's so easy to pretend I'm a girl myself when I'm with them. I do hate". . .with a little grimace. . ."to believe I'm old. Now, who are you. . .

just for convenience' sake? Diana Barry? And Anne Shirley? May Ipretend that I've known you for a hundred years and call you Anne and Diana right away?""You, may" the girls said both together.

"Then just let's sit comfily down and eat everything," said Miss Lavendar happily. "Charlotta, you sit at the foot and help with the chicken.

It is so fortunate that I made the sponge cake and doughnuts.

Of course, it was foolish to do it for imaginary guests. . .

I know Charlotta the Fourth thought so, didn't you, Charlotta?

But you see how well it has turned out. Of course they wouldn't have been wasted, for Charlotta the Fourth and I could have eaten them through time. But sponge cake is not a thing that improves with time."That was a merry and memorable meal; and when it was over they all went out to the garden, lying in the glamor of sunset.

"I do think you have the loveliest place here," said Diana, looking round her admiringly.

"Why do you call it Echo Lodge?" asked Anne.

"Charlotta," said Miss Lavendar, "go into the house and bring out the little tin horn that is hanging over the clock shelf."Charlotta the Fourth skipped off and returned with the horn.

"Blow it, Charlotta," commanded Miss Lavendar.

Charlotta accordingly blew, a rather raucous, strident blast.

同类推荐
  • 佛说阿难同学经

    佛说阿难同学经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宣和画谱

    宣和画谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 史书占毕

    史书占毕

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞真经洞章符

    太上洞真经洞章符

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大丹直指

    大丹直指

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • The Malefactor

    The Malefactor

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阔少擒妻之老婆难招架

    阔少擒妻之老婆难招架

    他是传说中最阴狠毒辣的暗道统治者。传说,他只身闯入国贸地下城,一夜之间挑了锦城最大的暗道势力。传说,他一怒冲冠只为心中那抹红颜。传说,他修改年龄只为陪伴在她身边。传说…属于他们的传说有很多,关于他们的爱情,可以用细水长流来形容,可关于他们的结局…待定。*一开始,她很讨厌他。因为整天跟着她不算,成绩还很差。可是后来她才知道,原来事出有因。看着那种疑难杂题在他手中轻松解答时,她惊诧。看着成绩单上直接从最后一名跃入前三十名时,她哑然。看着期末考试只差自己一分时,她愤怒了。她道“你一定是故意的!”他道“巧合。”她“…”然后下次,他落后两分。她道“你绝对是故意的!”他道“还是巧合。”她“…”*某天她发现他的真实年龄,十分惊诧。她道“请问你用的是哪个牌子的化妆品?太赞了有没有!完全一点破绽都没有!”他道“天生丽质。”她“…”天生丽质也可以用来形容男人么?她受教了。*后来的后来她才知道,原来他肯进步只因为不想离开自己。后来的后来她才知道,其实他很聪明,能把分数很好的控制多少分之内。而他从不超越她,只是为了让她拿那个所谓的奖学金。后来的后来他一直陪着她,护着她,用行动来证明给她看,让她深信,这个世界上真的会有这样一个人,会一直心甘情愿陪你到老到死。——友情提示:文属于成长型(感情系熬汤慢炖型滴)望亲们海涵。本文一如既往,一对一宗旨。问此文虐么?我说不虐你信么(偷笑。);我说小虐你还信么(捂嘴偷笑)。具体程度请参考前两本。另,文明留言,口下留情;欢迎跳坑,灰常感谢!!!推荐完结文:阔少擒妻之老婆难招架
  • 扫迷帚

    扫迷帚

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 热门小菜精华

    热门小菜精华

    小菜看似简单,其实大有学问!美味可口的小菜,即使只是一小碟。也能让人口水直流,挑动你我每一条渴望美食的神经!现在的小菜,不只是主菜上桌前的开胃菜而已,很多时候,更是非它不可、无它乏味的最佳主角!学好一手拿手小菜的好本领,不只居家料理能够变化如意,赢得赞赏,真的开起店来,这一盘盘独门绝活,更会是吸引客人的最佳帮手!
  • 爆笑穿越:宝式讨债项目组

    爆笑穿越:宝式讨债项目组

    【N年前旧坑,慎入!】讲述一活宝级小妞穿越时空,把假性植物人、严重自闭的男主活活气醒过来,乃至发展成一段伟大耐情的传奇故事。此文类属:【恶搞型爆笑文】后续发展且看各位看倌之反馈,如果实在不好笑以至冷场,就让主角通通死掉,改走古装青春爆痛路线--|||
  • 画继

    画继

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 惹上极品大恶魔

    惹上极品大恶魔

    那日相见,他笑着说:“丫头,来日方长。”她骂道:“谁要跟你来日方长,滚粗。”“我永远缠着你”“……”“走吧”“去哪?”“我家。”“尼玛,谁要跟你去”两人爱恨纠缠不休,宠文一枚哦!………………。
  • 律师刑事辩护典型案例评析

    律师刑事辩护典型案例评析

    对于刑事辩护典型案例的深入评析,无论是对于司法实务操作还是对于刑法理论研究,乃至对于推动立法改革而言,目前都具有重大意义。
  • 奈姝

    奈姝

    我奈姝,21世纪一名金牌杀手兼政府医生。然而因一次执行任务时的意外爆炸。毫无意外的像小说里写的一样——穿越了!我很庆幸我不是如小说里写的一般穿越到什么世家废物小姐的身上,而是我本体毫发无伤的穿越了!这不,我从天而降到一条大街上……
  • 我们再结一次婚

    我们再结一次婚

    某天的民政局,他与她在清晨相遇,从日上中天等到日落黄昏,他的未婚妻没来。从人渐熙攘到人渐消散,她没等到男朋友前来。工作人员见他们坐一起又偶尔的交谈,始终不来办手续。不免从最初的诧异到最后的熟视无睹。“我说两位,我们要下班了,你们是办还是不办啊。”“办。”两人异口同声。