按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Just the sort of night people like to cuddle down between their
blankets and count their mercies；〃 said Anne to Jane Andrews； who
had come up to spend the afternoon and stay all night。 But when
they were cuddled between their blankets； in Anne's little porch
room； it was not her mercies of which Jane was thinking。
〃Anne；〃 she said very solemnly； 〃I want to tell you something。 May I〃
Anne was feeling rather sleepy after the party Ruby Gillis had
given the night before。 She would much rather have gone to sleep
than listen to Jane's confidences； which she was sure would bore her。
She had no prophetic inkling of what was coming。 Probably Jane was
engaged； too； rumor averred that Ruby Gillis was engaged to the
Spencervale schoolteacher； about whom all the girls were said
to be quite wild。
〃I'll soon be the only fancy…free maiden of our old quartet；〃
thought Anne； drowsily。 Aloud she said； 〃Of course。〃
〃Anne；〃 said Jane； still more solemnly； 〃what do you think of my
brother Billy？〃
Anne gasped over this unexpected question； and floundered
helplessly in her thoughts。 Goodness； what DID she think of
Billy Andrews？ She had never thought ANYTHING about him
round…faced； stupid； perpetually smiling； good…natured Billy
Andrews。 Did ANYBODY ever think about Billy Andrews？
〃I I don't understand； Jane；〃 she stammered。 〃What do you
mean exactly？〃
〃Do you like Billy？〃 asked Jane bluntly。
〃Why why yes； I like him； of course；〃 gasped Anne；
wondering if she were telling the literal truth。 Certainly she
did not DISlike Billy。 But could the indifferent tolerance with
which she regarded him； when he happened to be in her range of
vision； be considered positive enough for liking？ WHAT was Jane
trying to elucidate？
〃Would you like him for a husband？〃 asked Jane calmly。
〃A husband！〃 Anne had been sitting up in bed； the better to
wrestle with the problem of her exact opinion of Billy Andrews。
Now she fell flatly back on her pillows； the very breath gone
out of her。 〃Whose husband？〃
〃Yours； of course；〃 answered Jane。 〃Billy wants to marry you。
He's always been crazy about you and now father has given him
the upper farm in his own name and there's nothing to prevent him
from getting married。 But he's so shy he couldn't ask you
himself if you'd have him； so he got me to do it。 I'd rather not
have； but he gave me no peace till I said I would； if I got a
good chance。 What do you think about it； Anne？〃
Was it a dream？ Was it one of those nightmare things in which
you find yourself engaged or married to some one you hate or
don't know； without the slightest idea how it ever came about？
No； she； Anne Shirley； was lying there； wide awake； in her own bed；
and Jane Andrews was beside her； calmly proposing for her brother Billy。
Anne did not know whether she wanted to writhe or laugh； but she could
do neither； for Jane's feelings must not be hurt。
〃I I couldn't marry Bill； you know； Jane；〃 she managed to gasp。
〃Why； such an idea never occurred to me never！〃
〃I don't suppose it did；〃 agreed Jane。 〃Billy has always been far
too shy to think of courting。 But you might think it over； Anne。
Billy is a good fellow。 I must say that； if he is my brother。
He has no bad habits and he's a great worker； and you can depend
on him。 ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush。' He told me to
tell you he'd be quite willing to wait till you got through college；
if you insisted； though he'd RATHER get married this spring before
the planting begins。 He'd always be very good to you； I'm sure；
and you know； Anne； I'd love to have you for a sister。〃
〃I can't marry Billy；〃 said Anne decidedly。 She had recovered
her wits； and was even feeling a little angry。 It was all so
ridiculous。 〃There is no use thinking of it； Jane。 I don't care
anything for him in that way； and you must tell him so。〃
〃Well； I didn't suppose you would；〃 said Jane with a resigned
sigh； feeling that she had done her best。 〃I told Billy I didn't
believe it was a bit of use to ask you； but he insisted。 Well；
you've made your decision； Anne； and I hope you won't regret it。〃
Jane spoke rather coldly。 She had been perfectly sure that the
enamored Billy had no chance at all of inducing Anne to marry him。
Nevertheless； she felt a little resentment that Anne Shirley；
who was； after all； merely an adopted orphan； without kith or kin；
should refuse her brother one of the Avonlea Andrews。 Well；
pride sometimes goes before a fall； Jane reflected ominously。
Anne permitted herself to smile in the darkness over the idea
that she might ever regret not marrying Billy Andrews。
〃I hope Billy won't feel very badly over it；〃 she said nicely。
Jane made a movement as if she were tossing her head on her pillow。
〃Oh； he won't break his heart。 Billy has too much good sense for that。
He likes Nettie Blewett pretty well； too； and mother would rather he
married her than any one。 She's such a good manager and saver。
I think； when Billy is once sure you won't have him； he'll take Nettie。
Please don't mention this to any one； will you； Anne？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said Anne； who had no desire whatever to publish
abroad the fact that Billy Andrews wanted to marry her； preferring her；
when all was said and done； to Nettie Blewett。 Nettie Blewett！
〃And now I suppose we'd better go to sleep；〃 suggested Jane。
To sleep went Jane easily and speedily； but； though very unlike
MacBeth in most respects； she had certainly contrived to murder
sleep for Anne。 That proposed…to damsel lay on a wakeful pillow
until the wee sma's； but her meditations were far from being romantic。
It was not； however； until the next morning that she had an opportunity
to indulge in a good laugh over the whole affair。 When Jane had gone home
still with a hint of frost in voice and manner because Anne had declined
so ungratefully and decidedly the honor of an alliance with the House of
Andrews Anne retreated to the porch room； shut the door； and had her
laugh out at last。
〃If I could only share the joke with some one！〃 she thought。
〃But I can't。 Diana is the only one I'd want to tell； and； even
if I hadn't sworn secrecy to Jane； I can't tell Diana things now。
She tells everything to Fred I know she does。 Well； I've had
my first proposal。 I supposed it would come some day but I
certainly never thought it would be by proxy。 It's awfully funny
and yet there's a sting in it； too； somehow。〃
Anne knew quite well wherein the sting consisted； though she
did not put it into words。 She had had her secret dreams of
the first time some one should ask her the great question。
And it had； in those dreams； always been very romantic and beautiful：
and the 〃some one〃 was to be very handsome and dark…eyed and
distinguished…looking and eloquent； whether he were Prince Charming
to be enraptured with 〃yes；〃 or one to whom a re