Anne of green gables
·
mrs. Rachel is surprised
One day
in early June, as Mrs. Rachel looked out her window, she saw matthew ride by.
He was wearing a white collar and his best suit of clothes a sure sign he was
leaving Avonlea. And his horse and buggy looked newly cleaned. Where could be
going?
Mrs.
Rachel knew that Ali was a quiet man who rarely went far from home. Although she
thought long and hard, she didi not know what to make of what she had just
seen. “I’ll just step over to green gables and ask his sister Marilla where
he’s gone and why after tea,”she told herself.
Mrs.
Rachel walked along the path beside the brook. This brook ran through most of Avonlea,
it started near the matthew place, twisted and turned, bubbled through pools
and over rocks. By the time it reached and hollow near Mrs. Rachel’s house, it
was calm and quiet. People said that even a brook would never eisk making too
much noise near Mrs. Rachel’s place.
Green
gables was built far back from the main road, by Marilla and matthew’s father a
man as quiet and shy as his son. It sat far back from the main road, surrounded
by orchards. “no wonder Marilla and matthew are so set in their ways, with only
trees and each other to talk to,” Mrs. Rachel said. “but their home certainly
is lovely.”
The
house at green gables looked well cared for. There wasn’t stray stick or stone
to be found in the yard. Privately, she wondered whether Marilla cwept that
yard as often as she swept her house. One could have eaten a meal off that
ground.
She
knocked on the kitchen door and entered. The kitchen was large with big windows
looking out on the yard and orchards. Sunlight poured in. marilla was sitting
at the table knitting.
Mrs.
Rachel noticed that the table was set for three people and that Marilla didi
not use her good dishes. The dinner guest must not be too important. mrs.
Rachel was now more curious than ever. Nothing unexpected ever happened at
green gables.
“good
afternoon, Rachel,” Marilla said, “how is your family?” ?Marilla was a tall,
thin woman. Her dark hair, always twisted into a hard little knot at the back
of her head, snowed some gray streaks.
“we
are fine. I was concerned about you, though, when I saw matthew go by with
thehorde and buggy. Is everything all right?”
Marilla
had expected her. She knew that matthew would drive right past Mrs. Rachel’s
window, making her curious. Despite their differences or perhaps because of
them they were friends. She tired not to smile at Rachel’s attempts to discover
more information.
“I
am quite well today, thank you, although I had quite the heasche yesterday.
matthew went to bright river. We’re getting a little boy from the orphanage in
Nova scotia. Matthew went to the train station to get him.”
If
Marilla had said that matthew had gone to bright river to fetch a kangaroo from
Australia, Mrs. Rachel couldn’t have been more surprised. “is that true,
Marilla? What on earth put such a nation in your head?”
Marilla
spoke as if getting an orphan boy was a common, everyday event. “ matthew is
getting up in years he’s sixty his heart troubles him a great deal, and we
thought a boy would be a big help. Mrs. Spencer was going to the orphanage to
get her self a little girl, so we sent word asking her to bring back a boy for
us. We plan to bring him up right, give him a good home, and send him to
school. We got the telegram today they’ll arrive on the five thirty train at
bright river.”
“well,
Marilla,” Rachel began. She prided herself on always speaking her mind, and
this was no exception. “ I think you are doing a foolish thing a risky thing
bringing a stranger into your home. You know nothing of this boy or of this
family.”
Marilla
didn’t look up from her knitting. “I’ve had some worries my self,” she
admitted, “but matthew was set on the idea. He so reraly sets his mind on
anything that I felt I should give in. besides, Rachel, there are risks with
most things in life.”
“well,
I hope it turns out all right,” said Mrs. Rachel. But her tone indicated she
thought it unlikely.
Although
she would have liked to stay and meet the orphan boy, Mrs. Rachel knew it was
time to leave. She would just have time to run to the Bell’s pace to tell them the news before supper.
“I do
feel sorry for that young boy,” she said to herself. “imagine living in that
household with the matthew, who khow nothing of children, I often wonder if
they were ever children them selves.”
·
matthew is surprised
It was
eight miles from Avonlea to bright river. matthew and his horse assed by farms
and orchards. After awhile, he began to enjoy the ride.
matthew
was tall with long gray hair that touched his shoulders and a full brown beard.
When
he reached bright river there was no sign of the train. Thinking he was too
early, he tied up his horse and went inside. The only person on the long
platform was a girl. She was waiting for something or somebody, and, since
sitting and waiting was the only thing to do just then, she sat and waited with
all her might.
matthew
asked if the five thirty train would come soon. “it’s been in and gone half and
hour ago,” the station master told him. “but there was someone dropped off for you
a little girl. She’s sitting out there on the bench. I said she could wait
inside but the said ‘ there was more scope for the imagination’ outside. She’s
strange little thing.”
“little
girl?” matthew could barely get the words out. “we’re expecting a boy. Mrs.
Spencer was to bring him from nova scotia.”
“guess
there’s some mistake. Mrs. Spencer left that girl here, saying you would come
fetch her.”
“I
don’t understand,” said ali helpessly. “well. You better ask the girl,” said
the station master. “ I’m sure she can explain it. You’ll be lucky to get word
in, though.” He turned back to his work.
Poor,
shy matthew had to find a way to walk up to a girl a strange orphan girl and
demand to know why she wasn’t a boy.
She
was wearing a very short, tight, ugly yel low dress. Her hair, hanging down in
two thick braids, was very, very red. Her face was small, white, and thin with
many, many freckles. She had been watching him with her large green eyes since
he arrived.
matthew
was spared the trouble of speaking first. As soon as she realized he was
looking for her, she stood up and held out her hand. “I sup pose you are
matthew of green gables?” I’m very glad to meet you. I was starting to worry
that you’d never arrive. I decided that if I werw left here would walk down the
track to that cherry tree and climb up to spend the night. It would be so
lovely to wake up in white cherry blossoms, don’t you think? I was sure that
you would come for me by morning, though.”
matthew
had taken the scrawny little hand in his. He knew he could not tell this child with
the glowing eyes that there had been a mistake. He would take her home and tel
marilla do that, besides, he couldn’t just leave her at the station. “im sorry
I was late,” he said shyly.”come along. The horse is there, give me your bag.”
After a short pause, matthew added, “please.”
“oh,
I can take it,” the cild said cheerfully. “I’ve got all my worldly goods in it,
but it isn’t heavy. I’m so glad you came for me even though it woulld’ve been
nice to sleep in the cherry tree. We have a long ride ahead of us, don’t we?
Mrs. Spencer said it was eight miles. I love driving, so I won’t mind a bit.
Oh, it seems so wonderful thst I’m going to live with you and belong to you.
I’ve never belonged to anybody not really. I was in the orphanage for four
mounths, but I’m glad that time is over. Every one there was good and nice but
they lacked imagination. As for me, I could imagine that the girl next to me
was really a princess, snatched by kidnappers. I used to lie awake at night
thinking of things like that because I didn’t have time during the day.”
Out
of breath, she stopped talking when they reached the buggy. They rode in
silence until they passed through and orchard of plum trees. She broke off a
brach that brushed against the side of the buggy. “isn’t that beautiful? What
did that white tree, leaning over the road, remind you of?” she asked.
“well
now, I dunno, “said matthew.
“why,
a bride, of course! A bride all in white with a lovely veil. I’ve never seen
one, but I can imagine what she would look like. I”ve never had a pretty dress
in my life, but it’s all the more to look dorward to, isn’t it? This morning
when I left the orphanage I simply imagined that I was wearing the most
beautiful silk dress I might as well imagine something worthwhile. It cheered
me up right away.
“oh,
look, more cheery trees all in bloom!” she kept talking. “ptince Edward island
is so beautiful! I just love it already and am so glad I’m going to live here.
But why are the roads so red? Mrs. Spencer said I must have asked her a
thousand questions already, and fir pity’s sake not to ask any more. I suppose
I had, but how are you going to find out about things if you don’t ask
questions?”
“well
now, I dunno, “ said matthew.
“isn’t
it wonderful to think of all the things there are to think about? It’s such an
interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting idf we knew all about
everything, would it? There’d be no scope for imagination then, would there?
“but
am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I
didn’t talk? I can stop when I make up my mind to, although it’s difficult.”
matthew,
much to his own surprise, was enjoying him self. Like most quiet folks, he
liked people who talked a lot. They didn’t expect him to keep up his end of it.
But he never expected to enjoy the company of a little girl so much. “oh, you
can talk as much as you like, “he said.”I don’t mind.”
“oh.
I’m ever so glad. I know you and I are going to get along fine. It’s such a relief
to talk when one wants to, and not be told not to. People laugh at me because I
use big words, but if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express
them.”
With
one small turn, they were on the “avenue” a short stretch of road with trees lining
both sides a tunnel of leaves, branches, and blossoms. Its beauty struck the
child dumb. She clasped her hands together and looked at the trees with awe.
Hen
they turned onto another she said, “oh, Mr. matthew, that’s the first place
I’ve seen that couldn’t be improved by imagination. It’s so beautiful, I can
feel in my chest. It’s like an ache. Have you ever had an anche like that Me.
matthew?”
“well
now, I don’t think I have”
“I’ve
felt that ache many times. I shall call that place the white way of delight. It
really is the only name for it, you know.”
They
passed a gray house with a pond nearby. “oh, look at that pond, Mr. matthew. I
will name the lake of shinning waters.”
“well,
,ost people call it barry”s pond since that”s Mr. Barry’s house.” matthew was
trying to keep up with the girk but it was hard to do.
“does Mr. barry have any little
girls? About my age?”
“he’s
got one sbout eleven. Her name is Diana.”
“oh!” she said. “what a lovely
name! and she’s exactly my age.” The girl clapped her hands together and
laughed.
“we”re
akmost home now,” matthew said.
“is
that it over there?” she pointed to a horse barely visible through the trees.
“as soon as I saw it, it felt like home.”
matthew
started to worry. He was glad it was marilla who woluld tell this little girl
there had been a mistake. How could they disappoint her? He could not bear to
think of the excited loght going out of her eyes.
“listen to the trees talking in
their sleep,” she whispered, as he lifted her to the ground. “what nice dreams
they must have!”
Then,
carrying the bag with “all her worldly goods” in it she followed him into the
house.
·
Marilla is surprised
Marila
stopped in her tracks as ali and strange little redhead walked in.
“matthew,
who’s that?” she said. “where’s the boy?”
“there
wasn’t boy.” He said. “there was only her.” He nodded to the child and suddenly
remembered he had never asked her name.
“how could
there not be a boy?” marilla asked. “we sent word to mrs. Spencer to bring us a
boy.”
“well, she
didn”t. I asked the stationmaster. I couldn’t just leave her there, in any
event, no matter what mistake was made.”
The child remained silent, her eyes roving from one to the
other. She dropped her bag. “you don’t want me because I’m not a boy!” she
cried. “ I might have to burst into tears!”
And burst into
tears she did. Dhe buried her head in her hands and started to cry. Marilla and
ali looked at one another. They didn’t know what to do.
“well, well,
there’s no need to cry,” marilla said.
“yes there is a
need!” she lifted her head.
“if you werw an
orphan and werw told yor new home isn’t really yours because you aren’t a boy,
you would cry, too. This is the most tragical thing that’s ever happened to
me!”
Soething close
to a smile crossed marilla’s lips although it had been so long since she smiled it was hard to tell.
“well, don’t
cry anymore. We’re not going to turn out to night. You’ll stay until we learn
what happened.” Marilla thought of one more thing. “and what is your name?”
“anne, “ she said rather sadly. “but please call me anne
spelled with and ‘e’.”
“what
difference does it make?” another rusty smile crossed marilla’s lips.
“oh, it makes
such a difference. It looks much prettier for one. anne with an ‘e’ is so much
more romantic, don’t you think?”
“very well,
then, anne spelled with an ‘a’ can you tell me how this mistake was made? Were
there no boys at the orphanage?”
“oh, yes,many,”
anne answered. “but mrs. Spencer said quite clearly that you wanted a girl
about eleven. So they sent me.”
anne turned to
anne. “oh, why didn’t tell me this at the station? If I hadn’t seen whute way
of delight and the lake of shinning waters, it wouldn’t be so hard. Its all so tragical!”
“what on earth
does she mean?” marilla demanded. “lake of shinning waters?”
“she she’s
talking about things we saw on our ride home. The lake it barry’s pond,” anne
sait quietly. “ I should go out and tend the mare. She’ll need water. “ he went
quickly outside.
“let me hang up
your coat, then. When ali comes back we’ll have supper and talk about this
later.”
anne couldn’t
eat, thogh she nibbled at her food, but it was hard to swallow. “please don’t
think poorly of me because I can’t eat. I really wish I could. Everything is
very nice.”
Marilla looked
at the girl. She was so tired and sad that could barely sit up straight. “maybe
its time for bed,” marilla said. “nothing can be done until morning anyway.”
In a room next
to the kitchen was a bed for the orphan boy but it didn’t seem right for a
girl. anne would have to sleep in the east gable room. Marillla picked up a
cadle and told ica follow her.
anne moved
slowly, taking her bag with her. She noticed that the house was very, very
clean. Nothing was out of place.
“now, get
ready for bed. I’ll be back to put out
the candle.”
anne looked
around the room. It was bare expect for a bed, a table and chair, and washstand
and mirror. She puton on her nightgown and jumprd into bed.
Marilla came in
saw anne’s clothes scattered on the floor. She picked them up, placing them
neatly on the chair.
“good night,” she said a little awkwardly.
“how can you
say its good night? This is the worst night of my life!” anne cried. She buried
her face in the pillow.
Marilla went
back to the kitchen. She did the dishes in silence as matthew sat in the corner smoking his pipe.
“we should have
gone to the orphanage our selves,” marilla finally said. “I’ll go see about
this tomorrow. The girl will have to be sent back.”
“well now,
marilla , she’s a nice little thing. And she’s so set on staying.”
Marilla was
shocked.”ali! you don’t mean you want to keep her?”
“we might do
her some good,” he said quietly.
“I could hire a
local boy for chores. anne could help you.”
“ I don’t need
any help!” said marilla. “we wanted a boy to help you.”
“well now ,
marilla, whatever you think is best.”
He got up from his chair and went to bed.
Marilla was
left alone with her thoughts, and there were an awful lot of them.
