# ■ 2 At Green Gables

And so the next morning Marilla said, 'Well, Anne, Matthew and I have decided to keep you, only if you're a good girl, of course. Why, child, what's the matter? '

I'm crying, 'sobbed Anne, 'because I'm very happy! It's beautiful here! People say I'm very bad, but I'll try very hard to be good. Oh, thank you! Thank you! '

Now stop crying, child, 'said Marilla a little crossly, 'and listen. We're going to adopt you, and send you to school after the summer holidays. '

Anne stopped crying. 'Can I call you Aunt Marilla? I've never had any family at all, so I'd really like to have an aunt. We could imagine that you're my mother's sister. '

I couldn't, 'answered Marilla firmly.

Don't you imagine things? 'asked Anne, surprised.

No, I don't, 'Marilla replied. 'I do my housework, and look after Matthew, and go to church on Sunday. There's no time for imagining things in this house. Just remember that, Anne. '

Anne was silent for a few minutes. Then she said, 'Marillam do you think I'll find a best friend in Avonlea? Someone who really understands me and knows all my secrets. I've always wanted a friend like that. '

Our friends, the Barrys, have a daughter called Diana, who's eleven, like you But if you want to play with her, you'll have to be very good. Mrs Barry is very careful about Diana's friends. '

Diana! What a beautiful name! 'said Anne excitedly. 'Her hair isn't red, is it? I hope it isn't. 'She looked sadly at her red plaits. 'I hate my hair. '

Diana has dark hair. She's a good, clever girl. Try to be like her, Anne. '

When the two girls met, they knew at once that they would be good friends. They often played together, in the fields, or by the river, or in the garden. In the morning Anne helped Marilla with the housework. Then in the afternoon she played with Diana, or talked happily to Matthew while he worked on the farm. She soon knew and loved every flower, tree, and animal at Green Gables.

The Cuthberts had another friend, Mrs Rachel Lynde. She liked to know everything that was happening in and around Avonlea. She was very interested in the Cuthberts'little or-phan girl, so one day she visited Marilla.

I was very surprised to hear about the child, 'she told Mar-illa. 'So you and Matthew have adopted her! '

I'm surprised myself, 'answered Marilla with a smile. 'But she's a clever little thing, you know. And she's always dancing, or singing, or laughing. '

Mrs Lynde shook her head sadly. 'What a mistake, Marilla! You've never had any children yourself, so how can you look after her? '

Just then Anne ran in from the garden. She stopped sudden-ly when she saw a stranger in the kitchen. Mrs Lynde looked at the thin little girl in the short dress, with her freckled face and red hair.

Isn't she thin, Marilla? 'she said. 'Just look at those freckles! And hair as red as carrots! '

Anne's face went red. She ran up to Mrs Lynde.

I hate you! 'she shouted angrily. 'I hate you! You're a horrible, fat old woman! 'And she ran upstairs.

Oh dear, oh dear! 'said Mrs Lynde. 'What a terrible child! You'll not have an easy time with her, Marilla. '

You were rude to her, Rachel, 'Marilla replied, before she could stop herself.

Well! 'said Mrs Lynde. She got up and walked to the door. 'I think this orphan is more important to you than I am. When I think how long we've been friends…You'll have trouble with her, I can tell you. Well, I'm sorry for you, that's all. Goodbye. '

Marilla went upstairs to Anne's room. The child was lying on her narrow bed, sobbing loudly.

You mustn't get angry like that, Anne. Mrs Lynde is my friend, and you were very rude to her. '

She was rude to me! 'said Anne. 'She said I was thin and freckled and red-haired. It was very unkind! '

I understand how you feel, 'said Marilla. 'But you must go to her and tell her you're sorry. '

I can never do that, 'said Anne firmly.

Then you must stay in your room and think about it. You can come out when you agree to say that you're sorry. '

Anne stayed in her room all the next day. Downstairs the house was very quiet without her. That evening, while Marilla was busy in the garden, Matthew went up to Anne's room. The child was sitting sadly by the window.

Anne, 'he said shyly, 'why don't you say you're sorry? Then you can come down, and we can all be happy. '

I am sorry now, 'said Anne. 'I was very angry yesterday! But do you really want me to…'

Yes, do, please. It's lonely downstairs without you. But don't tell Marilla I've talked to you. '

Marilla was pleased to hear that Anne was sorry. Later that evening, when she and Anne were in Mrs Lynde's warm kitchen, Anne suddenly fell on her knees.

Oh Mrs Lynde, 'cried the little girl, 'I'm very sorry. I can't tell you how sorry I am, so you must just imagine it. I am a bad girl! But please say you will forgive me. I'll be sad all my life if you don't ! '

She's enjoying herself! 'thought Marilla, watching Anne's face. 'She doesn't look sorry at all, but happy and excited! '

But Mrs Lynde said kindly, 'Of course I forgive you. 'And later she said to Marilla, 'Perhaps you're right to keep her. She's a strange little thing, but I think I like her. '

■ 2 在格林·蓋布爾斯

第二天早上，瑪麗拉說，“好吧，安妮，馬修和我已經決定將你留下，當然，你必須聽話。怎麼了，孩子，發生什麼事了？”

“我在哭，”安妮抽泣著說道，“因為我非常高興！這裡很漂亮！大家說我很淘氣，但我會盡力做一個好孩子。哦，太感謝你們了！謝謝！”

瑪麗拉有些不快地說：“別哭了，孩子。聽著，我們將收養你，暑假後還要把你送到學校去。”

安妮停止了哭泣。“我能叫您瑪麗拉姨媽嗎？我從來沒有過家，所以我特別想有一個姨媽。我們可以將您想像成我的姨媽。”

“我無法那樣想像，”瑪麗拉堅定地說。

“您從來也不幻想嗎？”安妮驚訝地問道。

“不，從來不幻想。”瑪麗拉回答。“我要做家務，照顧馬修，週日還要去教堂。在這家裡沒有時間去幻想。記住這一點，安妮。”

安妮沉默了一會。然後說道：“瑪麗拉，我在埃文利會找到一個最好的朋友嗎？一個真正理解我，知道我所有祕密的朋友。我一直想要一個那樣的朋友。”

“我們的朋友巴里家裡有一個小姑娘叫戴安娜，她今年11歲，與你同歲。但是如果你想和她一起玩，就必須非常乖。巴里太太對戴安娜交什麼樣的朋友要求很嚴。”

“戴安娜！多好聽的名字！”安妮興奮地說。“她的頭髮不是紅色的吧？我希望不是。”她傷心地看著她的紅髮辮。“我恨我的頭髮。”

“戴安娜長著黑色的頭髮。她是個聰明乖巧的姑娘。多向她學吧，安妮。”

兩個小姑娘初次見面，立刻就知道她們會成為好朋友。她們經常在田野、小河邊或花園裡一起玩耍。早晨安妮幫助瑪麗拉料理家務。下午和戴安娜一起玩，或者與在地裡幹活的馬修高興地聊天。很快她就認識並愛上了格林·蓋布爾斯的每一種鮮花、樹木和動物。

雷切爾·林德太太是卡斯伯特家的另一個朋友。她喜歡打聽發生在埃文利村及其四周的一切事情。她對卡斯伯特家收養的小孤女很感興趣，因此有一天她特意來拜訪瑪麗拉。

“聽到小女孩的事我很吃驚，”她告訴瑪麗拉。“那麼你們已經收養她了！”

“我自己也很吃驚，”瑪麗拉笑著答道。“但你知道，她是個小機靈鬼。總是唱啊、跳啊、笑啊。”

林德太太難過地搖搖頭。“瑪麗拉，你犯了一個大錯誤。你自己從沒有過孩子，你怎麼能照顧她呢？”

這時安妮從花園裡跑進來。當她看到廚房裡的陌生人時突然停了下來。林德太太看著這個穿著短小衣服的瘦弱女孩、她的紅色頭髮和一張佈滿雀斑的臉。

“她多瘦啊，瑪麗拉。”她說，“看她那些雀斑！還有像胡蘿蔔一樣紅的頭髮！”

安妮的臉紅了。她跑向林德太太。

“我恨你！”她生氣地喊道。“我恨你！你是個可怕的胖老太婆！”說完跑上樓去。

“天哪，天哪！”林德太太說道。“多可怕的孩子。你就甭想省心了，瑪麗拉。”

“你對她太粗魯了，雷切爾，”瑪麗拉說道，話沒說完，瑪麗拉已經後悔了。

“好吧！”林德太太說。她站起身走到門邊。“我想這孤兒對你來說比我重要。當我想到我們成為好朋友已經多年……這孩子會給你找麻煩的，我敢保證。好吧，我只想說我為你感到難過，再見吧。”

瑪麗拉來到樓上安妮的房間裡。孩子躺在她窄小的床上，正在大聲地哭泣。

“你沒必要那麼生氣，安妮。林德太太是我的好朋友，而且你對她太沒禮貌了。”

“是她先對我失禮的！”安妮爭辯道。“她說我瘦小枯乾，還長著雀斑和紅頭髮。這也太刻薄了！”

“我理解你的感受，”瑪麗拉說道，“但你必須到林德太太家去向她道歉。”

“我不能那麼做，”安妮斬釘截鐵地回答。

“那麼你只能呆在你的房間裡好好想一想。直到你同意去道歉才能出來。”

第二天，安妮整日呆在自己的房間裡。由於安妮不在，樓下的房間裡非常安靜。那天晚上，瑪麗拉在花園裡忙碌著，馬修來到樓上安妮的房間。孩子正神情憂鬱地坐在窗前。

“安妮，”他有些難為情地說道，“你為什麼不肯道歉呢？那樣你就可以下樓去，我們大家都可以高高興興的了。”

“我現在是後悔了，”安妮說，“昨天我太生氣了！可您真想讓我去……”

“是的，去道個歉吧。樓下沒有你太冷清了。但別告訴瑪麗拉我和你談過。”

瑪麗拉聽到安妮願意道歉非常高興。那天晚上，當瑪麗拉和安妮在林德太太溫暖的廚房裡時，安妮突然跪了下去。

“哦，林德太太，”小女孩抽泣著，“我非常對不起您。我說不出我有多後悔，所以只能請您想像一下。我是個壞女孩！但請您告訴我您會原諒我的。如果您不原諒我，我一輩子都會很難過的！”

“這孩子好像還挺喜歡這樣做的！”瑪麗拉看著安妮的表情暗想，“她看上去一點也不難過，倒是有一點高興和興奮！”

林德太太和藹地說道：“我當然原諒你。”後來她對瑪麗拉說：“也許你讓她留下是對的。這小傢伙有些特別，但我想我挺喜歡她。”