# ■ 6 Matthew and Marilla

But when she arrived back at Green Gables, Anne knew at once that something was wrong. Matthew looked

much older than before.

What's the matter with him? 'Anne asked Marilla.

He's had some heart trouble this year, 'replied Marilla. 'He really isn't well. I'm worried about him. '

And you're not looking well, Marilla, 'said Anne. 'Now you must rest, while I do the housework. '

Marilla smiled tiredly at Anne. 'It's not the work, it's my head. It often hurts, behind my eyes. I must see the doctor about it soon. But another thing, Anne, have you heard any-thing about the Church Bank? '

I heard it was having a difficult time. '

All our money is in that bank. I know Matthew's worried about it. '

The next morning a letter came for Matthew. Marilla saw his grey face and cried, 'What's the matter, Matthew? '

Anne, who was bringing an armful of flowers into the kitchen, saw his face too. Suddenly, Matthew fell to the ground. Anne dropped her flowers and ran to help Marilla. Together they tried everything, but it was too late. Matthew was dead.

It was his heart, 'said the doctor, who arrived a little later. 'Did he have any bad news suddenly? '

The letter! 'cried Anne. 'Shall I see what's in it? Oh Mar-illa, look! The Church Bank has had to close down! Your money, and Matthew's, has all gone! '

Everybody in Avonlea was sorry to hear that Matthew was dead. For the first time in his life, Matthew Cuthbert was an important person.

At first Anne couldn't cry. But then she remembered Matthew's smiling face when she told him about the Avery prize. Suddenly she started crying and couldn't stop. Marilla held her in her arms and they sobbed together.

Crying can't bring him back, 'whispered Marilla. 'We'll have to learn to live without him, Anne. '

* * *

In the next few weeks Anne and Marilla worked hard together on the farm and in the house. Everybody in Avonlea was very kind to them, but it was a sad time.

One day Marilla said, 'I'll miss you when you go to Red-mond College, Anne. What are the other Avonlea students go-ing to do? '

Some of them are going to teach, and some are going to stay at Queen's. '

Gilbert's going to teach at Avonlea school, isn't he? 'Anne didn't reply, so Marilla went on. 'He's very tall and good-looking now, don't you think? Like his father, John, when he was younger. You know, John and I were very good friends, years ago. '

Anne looked up, interested. 'What happened? Why didn't you…? '

Well, we had a fight about something. He asked me to be friends again, but I couldn't forgive him. Later I was sorry, but he didn't speak to me again. Perhaps we…Oh well, it was a long time ago. '

The next day Marilla went to see the doctor. When she came back, she looked very tired and ill.

What did the doctor say? 'asked Anne worriedly.

He says I mustn't read or write, and I must wear glasses. Then my head won't hurt. But if I'm not very careful, I'll be blind in six months! '

For a minute Anne was silent. Then she said firmly, 'Then you must be careful, Marilla. '

Think how terrible it is to be blind! But how lucky you've got a free place at Redmond College! I can't give you any money, you see. All our money's gone, and I can't work now. I think I'll have to sell the farm, and go and live with Rachel Lynde! 'and poor Marilla sobbed wildly.

That night Anne sat alone in her bedroom. She thought and thought for some time, and then she smiled. When she went to bed, she knew what she was going to do.

The next day she explained it all to Marilla.

You can't sell Green Gables, it's our home! Just listen, I've planned everything. I'm not going to Redmond College, it's too far away. I'm going to teach, in one of the village schools near here. Then I can live there during the week and come home at weekends to look after you. Diana's father will use our fields and pay us for them, and so we'll have some money. You see? '

Oh Anne! I'll be all right if you're here. But you must go to Redmond, if you want to study…'

Redmond College doesn't matter, 'laughed Anne. 'I'm going to study at home in the evenings. And I'm going to be a really good teacher! That's better than anything! '

Marilla shook her head and tried not to cry. 'You're a good girl, Anne. Now we can keep Green Gables! '

A few days later Rachel Lynde came to the farm.

Do you know, 'she said, 'that Gilbert isn't going to be the Avonlea teacher now? '

Isn't he? 'cried Anne. 'Why not? '

When he heard that you wanted to be near Marilla, he de-cided to teach at a school in another village. So you can be the Avonlea teacher now. '

Oh! 'said Anne, surprised. 'That's…that's very kind of him. '

And that day, when she saw Gilbert by the river, she stopped him and held out her hand.

Gilbert, 'she said shyly, 'I… I want to thank you. It's very good of you. If I'm the Avonlea teacher, I can help Mar-illa much more at home. '

I'm happy to help you, Anne, 'said Gilbert. He smiled and held her hand firmly. 'Are we going to be friends now? Have you forgiven me for calling you"carrots"? '

Anne laughed. 'I forgave you a long time ago. '

I'm sure we're going to be very good friends, Anne. Can I walk home with you? '

And when Anne came into the Green Gables kitchen, Maril-la said, 'You look very happy, Anne. Was that Gilbert who was with you just now? '

Yes, 'replied Anne, her face red. 'Gilbert and I've decided to be friends. Oh Marilla, I think life is going to be good for all of us! We'll have to work hard, but we'll be happy. And we'll keep our dear old Green Gables! What could be better than that! '

■ 6 馬修和瑪麗拉

當她趕回格林·蓋布爾斯的時候，安妮立刻有一種不祥的感覺。馬修看上去比以前老了很多。

“馬修怎麼了？”安妮問瑪麗拉。

“今年他的心臟病犯了幾次，”瑪麗拉回答。“他的情況確實不太好。我很為他擔心。”

“你的氣色也不太好，瑪麗拉，”安妮說。“現在你必須休息，家務活由我來做。”

瑪麗拉疲倦地笑了笑。“家務事倒沒什麼，主要是我經常頭疼，就在眼睛後面。我得儘快看醫生。還有一件事，安妮，你聽到關於車茨銀行的事了嗎？”

“我聽說它經營困難。”

“我們所有的錢都在那家銀行裡。我知道馬修很擔心。”

第二天馬修接到一封信。瑪麗拉看到馬修的臉一下變灰了，連忙喊道：“發生什麼事了，馬修？”

安妮剛剛抱著一捧花走進廚房，她也看到了馬修的臉。突然，馬修倒在地上。安妮扔下花來幫助瑪麗拉。她們想盡了一切辦法拯救馬修，可已經太晚了。馬修死了。

晚些時候，大夫來了，他說：“是因為他的心臟。他有沒有突然聽到什麼不幸的消息？”

“是那封信！”安妮叫道。“我能不能看看裡面寫了些什麼？哦，瑪麗拉，你看！車茨銀行已經倒閉了！你的錢，還有馬修的，都沒了！”

聽到馬修去世的消息，埃文利村的每一個人都很難過。馬修·卡斯伯特這輩子第一次成了一個重要人物。

起初安妮哭不出來。但當她想起馬修聽到她獲得艾弗裡獎學金時臉上的笑容，就突然忍不住大哭起來。瑪麗拉摟著安妮，倆人一起哭泣。

“哭也沒法讓他回來了，”瑪麗拉小聲說道：“我們必須學會習慣沒有馬修的生活，安妮。”

* * *

在以後的幾周裡，安妮和瑪麗拉在田地裡和家中辛勤地勞作。埃文利村的每一個人都對她們很好，但這是一段傷心的日子。

一天，瑪麗拉說：“你到雷德蒙德大學以後我會想念你的，安妮。埃文利村的其他孩子有何打算？”

“他們中的一些人會成為教師，還有一些留在女王學院。”

“吉爾伯特將留在埃文利學校當教師，是嗎？”安妮沒有回答，所以瑪麗拉繼續說下去。“他現在已經是個高個子的帥小夥了，你不這麼認為嗎？像他父親約翰年輕時一樣。你知道，許多年前，約翰和我曾經是很要好的朋友。”

安妮很感興趣，抬起頭問道：“發生什麼事了？為什麼您不……？”

“哎，我們為了一件事吵了起來。他請求我重新成為他的好朋友，但我不能原諒他。後來我很後悔，但他再也不和我講話了。也許我們……哎，那已經是很久以前的事了。”

第二天，瑪麗拉去看病。當她回來的時候，看上去非常疲倦，好像是生病了。

“醫生說了些什麼？”安妮焦急地問。

“他說我不能再讀書寫字了，而且我必須戴上眼鏡。那樣我的頭就不會疼了。如果我不小心的話，6個月以後我就會失明！”

安妮沉默了一會兒。隨後她堅定地說：“您必須好好照顧自己，瑪麗拉。”

“想想雙目失明多可怕！但你能夠在雷德蒙德大學免費學習真是幸運！你看，我已經沒法給你錢了。我們所有的錢都沒了，我現在又不能勞動。我想我必須賣掉農場，然後搬去和雷切爾·林德同住！”可憐的瑪麗拉邊說邊哭了起來。

那天晚上安妮獨自坐在她的臥室裡。她思量了很長時間，然後她的臉上出現了笑容。當她上床休息的時候，她已經知道自己該如何去做。

第二天，安妮向瑪麗拉解釋了一切。

“您不能把農場賣掉，它是我們的家！您聽我說，我已計劃好一切。我不打算到雷德蒙德大學去，那裡太遙遠了。我將在附近村莊的一所學校教書。這樣，平常的時候我可以住在那裡，週末的時候回來照顧您。戴安娜的父親可以使用我們的土地，同時給我們地租，這樣我們就有一些錢了。您看這樣不好嗎？”

“噢，安妮，你在這裡我當然會很好。但如果你想學習，你必須去雷德蒙德……”

“去不去雷德蒙德大學沒有關係。”安妮笑道。“晚上我可以在家自己學習。而且我會成為一名非常出色的教師！那比什麼都好！”

瑪麗拉搖搖頭強忍住眼淚。“你是個好姑娘，安妮。現在我們可以留住農場了！”

幾天後，雷切爾·林德來到了農場。

“你們知道嗎，”她說，“吉爾伯特現在不想當埃文利村的教師了？”

“不當了？”安妮高聲問道。“為什麼不當？”

“當他聽說你希望離瑪麗拉近一些，他決定在另外一個村的學校教書。那樣你就可以成為埃文利村的教師了。”

“噢！”安妮吃驚地說。“那……那他真是太好了。”

那天，當安妮在河邊見到吉爾伯特的時候，她叫住了他，並向他伸出手去。

“吉爾伯特，”她靦腆地說，“我……我想謝謝你。你這樣做真是太好了。如果我當埃文利村的教師，我就可以在家裡更多地照顧瑪麗拉。”

“能幫助你我很高興，安妮，”吉爾伯特說。他笑著緊緊抓住安妮的手。“我們現在可以成為朋友了嗎？你現在原諒我叫過你‘胡蘿蔔’嗎？”

安妮笑道：“我很久以前就已經原諒你了。”

“我肯定我們能成為非常好的朋友，安妮。我能送你回家嗎？”

當安妮走進格林·蓋布爾斯廚房時，瑪麗拉說：“你看上去非常高興，安妮。剛才和你在一起的是吉爾伯特嗎？”

“是的，”安妮紅著臉回答。“吉爾伯特和我決定成為朋友。哦，瑪麗拉，我想我們都會有幸福的生活！我們的工作會很辛苦，但我們會很快樂。我們將留住我們心愛的老農場！還有什麼比這更好呢！”