Anne of Green Gables /Chapter XIII
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CHAPITRE XIII.


LES JOIES DE L'ATTENTE.


— Il est grand temps qu'Anne rentre pour faire sa couture, dit Marilla, en jetant un coup d'œil à la pendule, puis à l'extérieur où tout s'assoupissait dans la chaleur de cet après-midi doré d'août. Elle est restée à jouer avec Diana une bonne demi-heure de plus que ce que je lui ai permis ; et maintenant elle est perchée sur le tas de bois en grande conversation avec Matthew à jacasser comme une pie, quand elle sait parfaitement qu'elle devrait déjà être à son travail. Et bien sûr, il l'écoute comme un parfait nigaud. Je n'ai jamais vu un homme aussi entiché. Plus elle parle, et plus elle dit des choses farfelues, plus il est heureux. Anne Shirley, tu viens ici tout de suite, tu m'entends !

Quelques petits coups en staccato sur la fenêtre ouest, ramenèrent Anne à toute vitesse du jardin, les yeux brillants, les joues légèrement teintées de rose, sa chevelure ébouriffée flottant derrière elle en un torrent luminescent.

— Oh, Marilla, s'exclama-t-elle à bout de souffle, il va y avoir un pique-nique dans le pré de Mr Harmon Andrew, juste à côté du Lac des Eaux Étincelantes. Et Mme Bell la Directrice et Mme Rachel Lynde vont faire des glaces –tu te rends compte, Marilla, – des glaces ! Et oh, Marilla, est-ce que je peux y aller ?

— Regarde donc la pendule, s'il te plait, Anne. À quelle heure t'ai-je dit de rentrer ?

— Deux heures– mais n'est-ce pas parfait pour le pique-nique, Marilla ? Je peux y aller, s'il te plait ? Oh, je ne suis jamais allée à un pique-nique... J'en ai rêvé, mais je n'y suis jamais ... — Oui, je t'ai demandé de rentrer à deux heures. et il est trois heures moins le quart. J'aimerais savoir pourquoi tu ne m'as pas obéi, Anne.

— Mais, je le voulais, Marilla, de toutes mes forces. Mais tu n'as pas idée Marilla combien Idlewild est fascinant. Et ensuite, bien sûr, j'ai dû parler à Matthew au sujet de ce pique-nique. Matthew m'écoute avec tant de bienveillance. S'il te plaît, je peux y aller ?

— Il va falloir que tu apprennes à résister à la fascination de cet Idle-je-ne-sais-quoi. Quand je te dis de revenir à une certaine heure, ça veut dire à cette heure et pas une demi-heure plus tard. Et tu ne dois pas, non plus, t'arrêter pour bavarder en cours de route avec des auditeurs sympathiques. Pour ce qui est du pique-nique, tu peux y aller, bien sûr. Tu es élève à l'École du Dimanche, je n'ai pas pour habitude de t'empêcher d'aller quelque part quand touts les autres fillettes y seront.

— Mais... mais, balbutia Anne, Diana dit que tout le monde doit apporter un panier avec de quoi manger. Je ne peux pas cuisiner, comme tu le sais, Marilla, et... et... ça ne m'ennuie pas tellement d'aller à un pique-nique sans manches bouffantes, mais j'aurais vraiment honte si je devais y aller sans panier. Ça m'a tracassé depuis que Diana me l'a dit.

— Eh bien, pas besoin de me prier plus longtemps. Je te cuisinerai un panier garni.

— Oh, tu es si bonne Marilla. Oh, tu es si gentille avec moi. Oh, je te suis si reconnaissante.

Délaissant ses «Oh», Anne se jeta dans les bras de Marilla et embrassa sa joue cireuse avec ravissement. C'était la première fois de toute sa vie que le visage de Marilla avait été approché volontairement par les lèvres d'une enfant. De nouveau, cette sensation d'une surprenante douceur la ravit. En secret, elle était immensément contente de la caresse spontanée d'Anne, ce qui fut probablement la raison pour laquelle elle dit brusquement : — Allez, allez, peu m'importe tes embrassades absurdes. Je préférerais que tu fasses exactement ce qu'on te demande. En ce qui concerne la cuisine, j'ai l'intention de commencer à te donner des leçons dans ce domaine prochainement. Mais tu es tellement tête en l'air, Anne, que j'ai attendu que tu te calmes un peu et que tu te stabilises avant de commencer. Tu dois te concentrer sur la cuisine, et ne pas t'arrêter en plein milieu pour laisser ton esprit vagabonder sur toute la création. Maintenant, sors ton patchwork et termine ton carré avant l'heure du thé.

— Je n'aime pas le patchwork, dit Anne tristement, en fouinant dans sa corbeille à ouvrage, avant de s'asseoir en soupirant devant une pile de carrés rouges et blancs, je crois que les travaux de couture peuvent être agréables, mais il n'y a aucun espace pour l'imagination dans le patchwork. C'est juste un petit point l'un après l'autre, et on a l'impression que ça n'en finira jamais. Mais bien sûr, je préfère être Anne des Pignons Verts en train de coudre un patchwork plutôt qu'Anne de n'importe où qui n'aurait rien à faire qu'à jouer. Cependant, j'aimerais que le temps passe aussi vite en cousant des carrés de patchwork que lorsque je joue avec Diana. Oh, nous passons des moments si exquis, Marilla. Je dois faire preuve de beaucoup d'imagination, mais j'en suis parfaitement capable. Diana est simplement parfaite dans tous les autres domaines. Tu connais ce petit lopin de terre de l'autre côté du ruisseau qui coule entre notre ferme et celle de M. Barry. Il appartient à M. William Bell, et juste dans le coin se trouve un boqueteau de bouleaux blancs... le plus romantique des endroits, Marilla. C'est là que Diana et moi avons notre cabane. Nous l'appelons le Havre Sauvage. N'est-ce pas un nom poétique ? Je t'assure qu'il m'a fallu du temps pour le trouver. Je suis restée éveillée une nuit presque entière avant de l'inventer. Puis, juste au moment je m'endormais, c'est venu comme une inspiration. Diana était aux anges lorsqu'elle l'a entendu. Nous avons arrangé notre maison très élégamment. Tu dois venir la voir, Marilla, tu viendras n'est-ce pas ? Nous nous servons de grosses pierres, entièrement recouvertes de mousse, comme sièges, et de planches accrochées d'un arbre à l'autre comme étagères. Et nous disposons dessus toute notre vaisselle. Évidemment, elle est toute cassée mais c'est la chose la plus facile au monde que d'imaginer qu'elle est intacte. Il y a un morceau d'assiette avec dessus un bouquet de lierre rouge et vert qui est particulièrement magnifique. Nous l'avons mis dans le salon et nous avons aussi le cristal des fées. Le cristal des fées est aussi merveilleux qu'un rêve. Diana l'a trouvé dans les bois derrière leur poulailler. Il est plein d'arcs-en-ciel — rien que de petits arcs-en-ciel qui n'ont pas encore grandi — la mère de Diana lui a dit qu'il venait d'un lustre cassé qu'ils avaient autrefois. Mais c'est plus agréable d'imaginer que les fées l'ont perdu une nuit au cours d'un bal, alors on l'appelle le cristal des fées. Matthew va nous faire une table. Oh, nous avons baptisé cette petite mare ronde, dans le pré de M.Barry, l'étang des Saules. J'ai trouvé ce nom dans le livre que Diana m'a prêté. C'est un livre passionnant, Marilla. L'héroïne avait cinq soupirants. Je me satisferais d'un seul, pas toi ? Elle est très belle et elle a vécu de grandes aventures. Elle pouvait s'évanouir aussi aisément que ça. J'adorerais pouvoir m'évanouir, pas toi, Marilla ? C'est si romantique. Mais j'ai une très bonne santé parce que je suis si mince. Je crois quand-même que je grossis, pourtant. Tu ne trouves pas? Je regarde mes coudes tous les matins en me levant pour voir si des fossettes apparaissent. Diana a une nouvelle robe avec des demi-manches. Elle va la porter pour le pique-nique. Oh, j'espère qu'il fera beau mercredi prochain. Je ne crois pas que je pourrais supporter la déception si quelque chose m'empêchait d'aller au pique-nique. Je crois que j'y survivrais, mais je suis sure que je serais triste toute ma vie. Même si j'avais cent pique-niques les années suivantes ; ça ne consolerait pas d'avoir manqué celui-ci. Il va y avoir des barques sur le Lac aux Eaux Étincelantes... et puis des glaces, comme je te l'ai dit. Je n'ai jamais mangé de glace. Diana a essayé de m'expliquer comment c'était, mais je sens que les glaces font partie de ces choses qui dépassent l'imagination.

— Anne, tu ne parles que de ça depuis au moins dix minutes d'horloge, dit Marilla. Juste par curiosité, essaye de voir si tu peux tenir ta langue aussi longtemps.

Anne tint sa langue comme elle le demandait. Mais tout le reste de la semaine elle parla de pique-nique, pensa au pique-nique et rêva de pique-nique. Il se mit à pleuvoir le samedi, et la crainte que cette pluie ne dure jusqu'à mercredi lui mit les nerfs dans un état si effrayant que Marilla lui fit coudre un autre carré de patchwork afin d'apaiser sa nervosité.

Dimanche, Anne confia à Marilla, en rentrant de l'église, qu'elle avait ressenti des frissons quand le pasteur avait, depuis sa chaire, annoncé le pique-nique.

— J'ai frissonné de la tête aux pieds, Marilla ! Je ne pense pas avoir jamais cru jusque-là qu'il y aurait vraiment un pique-nique. Je ne pouvais pas m'empêcher de craindre de l'avoir seulement imaginé. Mais quand un pasteur annonce quelque chose en chaire, on ne peut que le croire

— Tu prends les choses trop à cœur Anne, dit Marilla en soupirant. J'ai bien peur qu'il y ait beaucoup de déceptions pour toi dans la vie.

— Oh, Marilla, attendre les choses avec impatience, c'est presque la moitié du plaisir, s'exclama Anne. Peut-être qu'elles ne se produiront pas, mais rien ne pourra empêcher le plaisir de les avoir espérées. Mme Lynde dit : « Heureux ceux qui n'attendent rien car ils ne seront pas déçus ». Mais je crois qu'il est bien pire de ne rien attendre que d'être déçu.

Pour aller à l'église, Marilla portait sa broche d'améthyste, ce matin-là, comme d'habitude. Marilla portait toujours sa broche d'améthyste quand elle allait à l'église. Elle aurait trouvé cela quelque peu sacrilège de ne pas le faire... aussi grave que d'oublier sa bible ou sa petite monnaie. Cette broche d'améthyste était le plus grand trésor de Marilla. Un oncle, voyageur des mers, l'avait donnée à sa mère qui à son tour l'avait léguée à Marilla. C'était un bijou démodé de forme ovale, contenant une mèche de cheveux de sa mère, cerclé d'une rangée de très délicates améthystes. Marilla avait trop peu de connaissances en matière de pierres précieuses pour se rendre réellement compte à quel point les améthystes étaient belles; mais elle les trouvait magnifiques et était toujours agréablement consciente de leur chatoiement violet à son cou, au-dessus de sa bonne robe de satin brun, même si elle ne pouvait pas le voir.

Anne avait été frappée d'une admiration émerveillée la première fois qu'elle avait vu cette broche.

— Oh, Marilla, c'est une broche tout à fait élégante. Je ne comprends pas que tu puisses être attentive au sermon ou aux prières quand tu la portes. Moi, je sais que je ne pourrais pas. Je trouve les améthystes tout simplement adorables. Elles sont comme j'imaginais les diamants. Il y a longtemps, avant même que j'aie vu un diamant, j'ai lu des choses à leur sujet et j'ai tenté d'imaginer à quoi ils ressembleraient. Je croyais que c'étaient d'adorables pierres violettes scintillantes. Quand un jour j'ai vu un vrai diamant sur la bague d'une dame j'ai été si déçue que j'ai pleuré. Bien sûr, il était magnifique mais ce n'était pas l'idée que je me faisais d'un diamant. Pourrais-tu me confier cette broche un instant, Marilla? Crois-tu que les améthystes pourraient être les âmes des bonnes violettes?
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CHAPTER XIII.
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THE DELIGHTS OF ANTICIPATION.
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And of course he's listening to her like a perfect ninny.
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I never saw such an infatuated man.
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The more she talks and the odder the things she says, the more he's delighted evidently.
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Anne Shirley, you come right in here this minute, do you hear me!"
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And Mrs.
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And oh, Marilla, can I go to it?"
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"Just look at the clock, if you please, Anne.
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What time did I tell you to come in?"
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"Two o'clock—but isn't it splendid about the picnic, Marilla?
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Please can I go?
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And it's a quarter to three.
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I'd like to know why you didn't obey me, Anne."
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"Why, I meant to, Marilla, as much as could be.
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But you have no idea how fascinating Idlewild is.
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And then, of course, I had to tell Matthew about the picnic.
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Matthew is such a sympathetic listener.
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Please can I go?"
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"You'll have to learn to resist the fascination of Idle-whatever-you-call-it.
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When I tell you to come in at a certain time I mean that time and not half an hour later.
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And you needn't stop to discourse with sympathetic listeners on your way, either.
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As for the picnic, of course you can go.
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"But—but," faltered Anne, "Diana says that everybody must take a basket of things to eat.
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It's been preying on my mind ever since Diana told me."
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"Well, it needn't prey any longer.
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I'll bake you a basket."
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"Oh, you dear good Marilla.
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Oh, you are so kind to me.
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Oh, I'm so much obliged to you."
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It was the first time in her whole life that childish lips had voluntarily touched Marilla's face.
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Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her.
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I'd sooner see you doing strictly as you're told.
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As for cooking, I mean to begin giving you lessons in that some of these days.
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Now, get out your patchwork and have your square done before tea-time."
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It's just one little seam after another and you never seem to be getting anywhere.
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I wish time went as quick sewing patches as it does when I'm playing with Diana, though.
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Oh, we do have such elegant times, Marilla.
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I have to furnish most of the imagination, but I'm well able to do that.
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Diana is simply perfect in every other way.
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You know that little piece of land across the brook that runs up between our farm and Mr. Barry's.
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Diana and I have our play-house there.
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We call it Idlewild.
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Isn't that a poetical name?
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I assure you it took me some time to think it out.
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I stayed awake nearly a whole night before I invented it.
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Then, just as I was dropping off to sleep, it came like an inspiration.
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Diana was enraptured when she heard it.
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We have got our house fixed up elegantly.
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You must come and see it, Marilla—won't you?
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And we have all our dishes on them.
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There's a piece of a plate with a spray of red and yellow ivy on it that is especially beautiful.
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We keep it in the parlour and we have the fairy glass there, too.
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The fairy glass is as lovely as a dream.
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Diana found it out in the woods behind their chicken house.
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Matthew is going to make us a table.
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Oh, we have named that little round pool over in Mr. Barry's field Willowmere.
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I got that name out of the book Diana lent me.
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That was a thrilling book, Marilla.
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The heroine had five lovers.
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I'd be satisfied with one, wouldn't you?
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She was very handsome and she went through great tribulations.
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She could faint as easy as anything.
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I'd love to be able to faint, wouldn't you, Marilla?
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It's so romantic.
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But I'm really very healthy for all I'm so thin.
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I believe I'm getting fatter, though.
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Don't you think I am?
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I look at my elbows every morning when I get up to see if any dimples are coming.
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Diana is having a new dress made with elbow sleeves.
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She is going to wear it to the picnic.
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Oh, I do hope it will be fine next Wednesday.
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I suppose I'd live through it, but I'm certain it would be a lifelong sorrow.
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They're going to have boats on the Lake of Shining Waters—and ice-cream as I told you.
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I have never tasted ice-cream.
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"Anne, you have talked even on for ten minutes by the clock," said Marilla.
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Now, just for curiosity's sake, see if you can hold your tongue for the same length of time."
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Anne held her tongue as desired.
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But for the rest of the week she talked picnic and thought picnic and dreamed picnic.
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"Such a thrill as went up and down my back, Marilla!
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I don't think I'd ever really believed until then that there was honestly going to be a picnic.
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I couldn't help fearing I'd only imagined it.
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But when a minister says a thing in the pulpit you just have to believe it."
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"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla with a sigh.
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"I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for you through life."
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"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them," exclaimed Anne.
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Mrs. Lynde says, 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.'
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But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed."
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Marilla wore her amethyst brooch to church that day as usual.
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Marilla always wore her amethyst brooch to church.
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That amethyst brooch was Manila's most treasured possession.
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A sea-faring uncle had given it to her mother who in turn had bequeathed it to Marilla.
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Anne had been smitten with delighted admiration when she first saw that brooch.
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"Oh, Marilla, it's a perfectly elegant brooch.
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I don't know how you can pay attention to the sermon or the prayers when you have it on.
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I couldn't, I know.
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I think amethysts are just sweet.
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They are what I used to think diamonds were like.
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I thought they would be lovely glimmering purple stones.
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When I saw a real diamond in a lady's ring one day I was so disappointed I cried.
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Of course, it was very lovely but it wasn't my idea of a diamond.
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Will you let me hold the brooch for one minute, Marilla?
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Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?"
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Update: Thank to Gaby and her watching the movie, we now know that:
1. Anne only use the formal form ("vous") at the start, but later (we agreed for Chapter XI) she will say "tu" to Marilla and Matthew, and the formal form with everybody else but her classmates. Marilla and Rachel are friends and they use "tu".
2. She likes overstatements and superlatives.
3. We need to translate "green gables" by "les pignons verts" as it is done in the movie.

by gaelle044 7 years, 4 months ago

Anne of Green Gables (1908)

Written for all ages, it has been considered a children's novel since the mid-twentieth century. It recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl who is mistakenly sent to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a middle-aged brother and sister who had intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in Prince Edward Island. The novel recounts how Anne makes her way with the Cuthberts, in school, and within the town. Since publication, Anne of Green Gables has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 20 languages. It has been adapted as film, made-for-television movies, and animated and live-action television series. — Excerpted from Anne of Green Gables (1908) on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Anne_of_Green_Gables_(1908)

by gaelle044 7 years, 4 months ago

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DELIGHTS OF ANTICIPATION.

"It's time Anne was in to do her sewing," said Marilla, glancing at the clock and then out into the yellow August afternoon where everything drowsed in the heat. "She stayed playing with Diana more than half an hour more'n I gave her leave to; and now she's perched out there on the woodpile talking to Matthew, nineteen to the dozen, when she knows perfectly well that she ought to be at her work. And of course he's listening to her like a perfect ninny. I never saw such an infatuated man. The more she talks and the odder the things she says, the more he's delighted evidently. Anne Shirley, you come right in here this minute, do you hear me!"

A series of staccato taps on the west window brought Anne flying in from the yard, eyes shining, cheeks faintly flushed with pink, unbraided hair streaming behind her in a torrent of brightness.

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed breathlessly, "there's going to be a Sunday-school picnic next week—in Mr. Harmon Andrews' field, right near the Lake of Shining Waters. And Mrs. Superintendent Bell and Mrs. Rachel Lynde are going to make ice-cream—think of it, Marilla—ice-cream! And oh, Marilla, can I go to it?"

"Just look at the clock, if you please, Anne. What time did I tell you to come in?"

"Two o'clock—but isn't it splendid about the picnic, Marilla? Please can I go? Oh, I've never been to a picnic—I've dreamed of picnics, but I've never—"

"Yes, I told you to come at two o'clock. And it's a quarter to three. I'd like to know why you didn't obey me, Anne."

"Why, I meant to, Marilla, as much as could be. But you have no idea how fascinating Idlewild is. And then, of course, I had to tell Matthew about the picnic. Matthew is such a sympathetic listener. Please can I go?"

"You'll have to learn to resist the fascination of Idle-whatever-you-call-it. When I tell you to come in at a certain time I mean that time and not half an hour later. And you needn't stop to discourse with sympathetic listeners on your way, either. As for the picnic, of course you can go. You're a Sunday-school scholar, and it's not likely I'd refuse to let you go when all the other little girls are going."

"But—but," faltered Anne, "Diana says that everybody must take a basket of things to eat. I can't cook, as you know, Marilla, and—and—I don't mind going to a picnic without puffed sleeves so much, but I'd feel terribly humiliated if I had to go without a basket. It's been preying on my mind ever since Diana told me."

"Well, it needn't prey any longer. I'll bake you a basket."

"Oh, you dear good Marilla. Oh, you are so kind to me. Oh, I'm so much obliged to you."

Getting through with her "ohs" Anne cast herself into Marilla's arms and rapturously kissed her sallow cheek. It was the first time in her whole life that childish lips had voluntarily touched Marilla's face. Again that sudden sensation of startling sweetness thrilled her. She was secretly vastly pleased at Anne's impulsive caress, which was probably the reason why she said brusquely:

"There, there, never mind your kissing nonsense. I'd sooner see you doing strictly as you're told. As for cooking, I mean to begin giving you lessons in that some of these days. But you're so feather-brained, Anne, I've been waiting to see if you'd sober down a little and learn to be steady before I begin. You've got to keep your wits about you in cooking and not stop in the middle of things to let your thoughts rove over all creation. Now, get out your patchwork and have your square done before tea-time."

"I do not like patchwork," said Anne dolefully, hunting out her workbasket and sitting down before a little heap of red and white diamonds with a sigh, "I think some kinds of sewing would be nice; but there's no scope for imagination in patchwork. It's just one little seam after another and you never seem to be getting anywhere. But of course I'd rather be Anne of Green Gables sewing patchwork than Anne of any other place with nothing to do but play. I wish time went as quick sewing patches as it does when I'm playing with Diana, though. Oh, we do have such elegant times, Marilla. I have to furnish most of the imagination, but I'm well able to do that. Diana is simply perfect in every other way. You know that little piece of land across the brook that runs up between our farm and Mr. Barry's. It belongs to Mr. William Bell, and right in the corner there is a little ring of white birch trees—the most romantic spot, Marilla. Diana and I have our play-house there. We call it Idlewild. Isn't that a poetical name? I assure you it took me some time to think it out. I stayed awake nearly a whole night before I invented it. Then, just as I was dropping off to sleep, it came like an inspiration. Diana was enraptured when she heard it. We have got our house fixed up elegantly. You must come and see it, Marilla—won't you? We have great big stones, all covered with moss, for seats, and boards from tree to tree for shelves. And we have all our dishes on them. Of course, they're all broken but it's the easiest thing in the world to imagine that they are whole. There's a piece of a plate with a spray of red and yellow ivy on it that is especially beautiful. We keep it in the parlour and we have the fairy glass there, too. The fairy glass is as lovely as a dream. Diana found it out in the woods behind their chicken house. It's all full of rainbows—just little young rainbows that haven't grown big yet—and Diana's mother told her it was broken off a hanging lamp they once had. But it's nicer to imagine the fairies lost it one night when they had a ball, so we call it the fairy glass. Matthew is going to make us a table. Oh, we have named that little round pool over in Mr. Barry's field Willowmere. I got that name out of the book Diana lent me. That was a thrilling book, Marilla. The heroine had five lovers. I'd be satisfied with one, wouldn't you? She was very handsome and she went through great tribulations. She could faint as easy as anything. I'd love to be able to faint, wouldn't you, Marilla? It's so romantic. But I'm really very healthy for all I'm so thin. I believe I'm getting fatter, though. Don't you think I am? I look at my elbows every morning when I get up to see if any dimples are coming. Diana is having a new dress made with elbow sleeves. She is going to wear it to the picnic. Oh, I do hope it will be fine next Wednesday. I don't feel that I could endure the disappointment if anything happened to prevent me from getting to the picnic. I suppose I'd live through it, but I'm certain it would be a lifelong sorrow. It wouldn't matter if I got to a hundred picnics in after years; they wouldn't make up for missing this one. They're going to have boats on the Lake of Shining Waters—and ice-cream as I told you. I have never tasted ice-cream. Diana tried to explain what it was like, but I guess ice-cream is one of those things that are beyond imagination."

"Anne, you have talked even on for ten minutes by the clock," said Marilla. Now, just for curiosity's sake, see if you can hold your tongue for the same length of time."

Anne held her tongue as desired. But for the rest of the week she talked picnic and thought picnic and dreamed picnic. On Saturday it rained and she worked herself up into such a frantic state lest it should keep on raining until and over Wednesday, that Marilla made her sew an extra patchwork square by way of steadying her nerves.

On Sunday Anne confided to Marilla on the way home from church that she grew actually cold all over with excitement when the minister announced the picnic from the pulpit.

"Such a thrill as went up and down my back, Marilla! I don't think I'd ever really believed until then that there was honestly going to be a picnic. I couldn't help fearing I'd only imagined it. But when a minister says a thing in the pulpit you just have to believe it."

"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla with a sigh. "I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for you through life."

"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them," exclaimed Anne. "You mayn't get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says, 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.' But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed."

Marilla wore her amethyst brooch to church that day as usual. Marilla always wore her amethyst brooch to church. She would have thought it rather sacrilegious to leave it off—as bad as forgetting her Bible or her collection dime. That amethyst brooch was Manila's most treasured possession. A sea-faring uncle had given it to her mother who in turn had bequeathed it to Marilla. It was an old-fashioned oval, containing a braid of her mother's hair, surrounded by a border of very fine amethysts. Marilla knew too little about precious stones to realize how fine the amethysts actually were; but she thought them very beautiful and was always pleasantly conscious of their violet shimmer at her throat, above her good brown satin dress, even although she could not see it.

Anne had been smitten with delighted admiration when she first saw that brooch.

"Oh, Marilla, it's a perfectly elegant brooch. I don't know how you can pay attention to the sermon or the prayers when you have it on. I couldn't, I know. I think amethysts are just sweet. They are what I used to think diamonds were like. Long ago, before I had ever seen a diamond, I read about them and I tried to imagine what they would be like. I thought they would be lovely glimmering purple stones. When I saw a real diamond in a lady's ring one day I was so disappointed I cried. Of course, it was very lovely but it wasn't my idea of a diamond. Will you let me hold the brooch for one minute, Marilla? Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?"