# ■ 3 At Avonlea school

When school started in September, Anne and Diana walked there and back together every day.

What a beautiful day, 'Anne said happily one morning, as the two little girls walked across the fields. 'I'm very lucky to have you as my best friend, Diana. You are my best friend, aren't you? '

Of course, Anne, 'replied Diana, taking Anne's hand. 'And just think, today you'll meet Gilbert Blythe. He's three years older than us, and very good-looking. He's just come back from holiday, and starts school today. '

Oh, boys! 'said Anne. 'I'm not interested in them. '

But she did look at Gilbert when they arrived at school. He was a tall boy, with curly brown hair and a friendly smile.

He is good-looking, 'Anne whispered to Diana, 'but why does he smile at me? He doesn't know me! '

Avonlea school was quiet that day. The teacher, Mr Phillips, was helping some of the older children at the back of the schoolroom. Anne was looking out of the window at the reds and yellows of the trees, and the silvery blue of the river. She was far away in the world of her imagination. But Gilbert wanted her to look at him. He whispered to her, but she did not move. He was surprised. Girls were usually very ready to look at him.

Suddenly he put his arm out, pulled her red plaits, and said in a loud whisper, 'Carrots! Carrots! '

Anne jumped up and looked angrily at Gilbert.

You horrible boy! 'she cried. 'I hate you! 'And then she brought her heavy book down on Cilbert's head.

Mr Phillips heard the noise, and came slowly to the front of the schoolroom.

Anne Shirley, why did you do that? 'he asked. She stayed silent. Gilbert said, 'I'm sorry, Mr Phillips. I was rude to her. That's why she hit me. 'But the teacher did not listen to Gilbert.

I cannot have bad children in my school, 'said Mr Phillips firmly, 'Anne, go and stand in front of the class. 'And there Anne stood for the rest of the day, a lonely little girl with a small white angry face.

I hate Mr Phillips! 'she thought. 'And I'll never look at or speak to Gilbert Blythe again! '

The next day some of the school children were playing in a farmer's field in their lunch hour, so they were a little late for afternoon school. Anne ran into the classroom at the same time as the boys, just after the teacher.

You're late, Anne, 'said Mr Phillips. 'You won't sit with Diana today. I see that you enjoy being with the boys very much, so go and sit next to Gilbert this afternoon. '

Anne's face went white. 'He can't mean it! 'she thought.

Did you hear me, Anne? 'asked Mr Phillips.

Yes sir, 'said Anne and moved slowly to Gilbert's desk. There she sat down and put her head on the desk, with her arms over it.

This is the end, 'she was thinking. 'I wasn't the only per-son who was late. And he's sent me to sit with a boy! And that boy is Gilbert Blythe! '

The rest of the day went very slowly for Anne. When it was time to leave, she went to her desk, next to Diana's, and took all her books, pens and pencils with her.

What are you doing, Anne? 'asked Diana.

I'm not coming back to school, 'replied Anne firmly.

Oh! But Anne…we're reading a new book next week…and we're playing a new game on Monday, and… It'll be very exciting! And you'll miss it, Anne! '

But Anne was not interested. 'I'm sorry, Diana, 'was her only answer.

That evening Marilla ran round to Rachel Lynde's house. 'Rachel, please help me! Anne says she won't go back to school. What am I going to say to her? '

Mrs Lynde already knew about Anne's troubles at school, and she was always very pleased when people asked her to help. She smiled and sat back comfortably.

I've had ten children myself, so I know all about them, 'she said. 'Anne can stay at home for a while. She'll want to go back to school again soon, I'm sure. '

So Anne stayed at home, and only saw Diana in the evenings. She was a child who felt very strongly. She hated Gilbert Blythe, but she really loved Diana.

One evening Marilla found Anne crying in the kitchen. 'What's the matter, child? 'she asked in surprise.

I love Diana very much, 'sobbed Anne. 'I can't live with-out her, Marilla! But what will happen when she marries? I hate her husband already! I can imagine her in the church in her long white dress…and then she'll go away! And I'll nev-er see her again! '

Marilla turned away to hide her smiling face. What a strange, funny child Anne was! Marilla tried not to laugh, but she couldn't stop herself.

You and your imagination, Anne Shirley! 'she cried, and she laughed and laughed.

Mrs Lynde was right, of course. After a few days Anne de-cided to go back to school. All the children were pleased to see her again, but she did not speak to Gilbert Blythe.

■ 3 在埃文利學校

九月，學校開學了，安妮和戴安娜每天一起步行上下學。

一天清晨，當兩個小姑娘穿過田野的時候，安妮感嘆道：“多美的一天啊！戴安娜，我有你這樣一位好朋友真幸運。你是我最好的朋友，不是嗎？”

“當然了，安妮。”戴安娜握住安妮的手回答道。“想想看，今天你就要見到吉爾伯特·布萊思了。他比我們大3歲，長得很帥。今天他剛剛度完假回學校上學。”

“男孩！”安妮說道。“我對他們不感興趣。”

但當她們到達學校的時候，安妮還是打量了吉爾伯特一下。他是個長著鬈曲的棕色頭髮的高個男孩，臉上掛著友善的微笑。

“他長得是帥，”安妮小聲對戴安娜說，“但他為什麼衝我笑？他根本不認識我！”

埃文利學校那天非常平靜。學校的教師，菲利普斯先生在教室後面輔導一些大孩子。安妮欣賞著窗外紅黃相間的樹木和波光粼粼的藍色小河。她已經被自己的幻想帶到了遙遠的地方。但吉爾伯特希望她看著自己。他對她低語，但她一動不動。他很驚訝。女孩們通常都很願意看他。

他忽然伸出手去，拽住她的紅色髮辮，一邊輕聲叫著，“胡蘿蔔！胡蘿蔔！”

安妮從座位上跳起來瞪著吉爾伯特。

“討厭鬼！我恨你！”她一邊叫，一邊用重重的課本打了他腦袋一下。

菲利普斯先生聽到了這邊的動靜，緩緩地從教室後面走了過來。

“安妮·雪利，你為什麼那樣做？”他問道。安妮一言不發。吉爾伯特答道：“我很抱歉，菲利普斯先生。是我對她無禮，所以她打我。”但老師沒有聽吉爾伯特的解釋。

“我不能讓壞孩子留在學校裡，”菲利普斯先生斬釘截鐵地說。“安妮，去站在全班同學的面前。”那天安妮就一直孤零零地站在那兒，一張小臉氣得煞白。

“我恨菲利普斯先生！”她想。“我再也不理吉爾伯特·布萊思了！”

第二天午飯的時候，一些學生在一個農夫的田裡玩耍，因此下午上課時他們遲到了一會兒。安妮和男生們一起跟在老師的後面進了教室。

“你遲到了，安妮，”菲利普斯先生說。“今天你不能和戴安娜坐在一起。我發現你很喜歡和男孩子們一起，今天下午你去和吉爾伯特坐在一起吧。”

安妮的臉變白了。“他不會是當真的！”她想。

“你聽見我說的話了嗎，安妮？”菲利普斯先生問道。

“是的，先生，”安妮邊回答邊慢慢地挪到了吉爾伯特的書桌旁。她坐下來，頭埋在手臂裡趴在書桌上。

安妮想：“這下全完了。我不是惟一一個遲到的學生。可他竟然讓我坐在一個男孩旁邊！而這男孩竟是吉爾伯特·布萊思！”

對於安妮來說，那天過得很慢。等到了放學的時候，她回到了戴安娜旁邊，從自己的課桌裡取出了課本、鋼筆和鉛筆。

“你幹什麼，安妮？”戴安娜問道。

“我不會再回學校裡來了，”安妮堅定地回答。

“噢！可是安妮……下週我們就要讀一本新書……星期一我們還要玩一個新遊戲，還有……在學校裡會很有趣！你會錯過這些的，安妮！”

但安妮對戴安娜所說的都不感興趣。只是回答道：“對不起，戴安娜。”

那天晚上，瑪麗拉來到了雷切爾·林德家裡。“雷切爾，請幫助我！安妮說她不肯再回學校了。我該怎麼說服她？”

林德太太已經聽說了安妮在學校的麻煩，她總是很高興有人請她幫忙。她微笑著靠在舒適的椅背上。

“我自己有10個孩子，所以我對孩子很瞭解，”她說。“可以讓安妮先在家裡呆一段時間。很快她就會想回到學校去的，我敢肯定。”

這樣安妮就留在家裡，每天晚上才能見到戴安娜。她是個愛憎分明的孩子。她恨吉爾伯特·布萊思，而又確實喜歡戴安娜。

一天晚上，瑪麗拉發現安妮在廚房裡哭泣。“怎麼了，孩子？”她驚訝地問道。

“我非常喜歡戴安娜，”安妮抽泣著說。“我的生活中不能沒有她，瑪麗拉！但如果她結婚會怎麼樣？我已經開始恨她的丈夫了！我可以想像到戴安娜穿著長長的婚紗在教堂裡……然後她就要走了！我就再也見不到她了！”

瑪麗拉轉過身去偷偷地笑。安妮真是個既奇怪又有趣的孩子！瑪麗拉盡力想止住笑，但還是忍不住。

“你和你的幻想，安妮·雪利”她大聲說，說完笑個不停。

當然，林德太太說的是對的。幾天後，安妮決定回到學校去。看到她回來所有的孩子都很高興，但安妮還是不理睬吉爾伯特·布萊思。