Anne of Green Gables chapter 2 and with
an e Marilla
opened the door she saw the odd girl in
the ugly dress with long red braids and
big eyes Matthew Cuthbert who's that she
said where's the boy
there wasn't any boy said Matthew slowly
there was only her he nodded at the
child he realized he didn't even know
her name no boy but there must be a boy
insisted Marilla we asked mrs. Spencer
for a boy
well I asked the stationmaster and mrs.
Spencer didn't bring a boy said Matthew
I had to bring the girl home well what
do we do now asked Marilla during this
conversation the child was silent
suddenly she understood what was
happening you don't want me she cried
you don't want me because I'm not a boy
I should have known nobody ever did want
me she burst into tears
neither Marilla nor Matthew knew what to
do
finally Marilla said well well there's
no need to cry you can stay here until
we find out what happened what's your
name
the child stopped crying and asked
eagerly will you please call me Cordelia
call you Cordelia is that your name
asked Marilla no it's not exactly my
name but I would love to be called
Cordelia it's a beautiful name I don't
know what you mean if Cordelia isn't
your name what is Marilla asked and
surely the girl answered but Anne is
such an unromantic name Anne is a good
plain sensible name said Marilla it's
all right but I like Cordelia better if
you must call me Anne please call me
Anne spelled with an e and said
what does it matter how it's spelled as
Marilla trying to stop a smile oh it
looks so much nicer a n n looks horrible
but a n n e
did mrs. Spencer bring any other orphans
besides you Marilla inquired
she brought Lily Jones for herself and
answered Lily is only five years old and
she is very beautiful she has nut-brown
hair
if I were very beautiful and had not
brown hair will you keep me no we want a
boy to help Matthew on the farm a girl
is no use now
take off your hat and let's eat dinner
and took off her hat and they sat down
to eat but Anne could not eat she
nibbled that the bread-and-butter and
nibbled at the apple pie when dinner was
finished Marilla showed Anne to a spare
bedroom and got into bed and put her
head right under the covers good night
Marilla said a little awkwardly but
kindly suddenly Anne's head reappeared
how can you say it's a good night when
you know it's the worst night I've ever
had she cried she disappeared under the
covers again Marilla went into the
kitchen and started to wash the dishes
Matthew sat on a chair saying nothing
one of us will have to take the girl
back tomorrow said Marilla I suppose so
said Matthew reluctantly you suppose so
Marilla echoed don't you know so well
now she's a real nice little thing
Marilla it's a pity to send her back she
likes it so much here said Matthew
Matthew Cuthbert do you really think we
should keep her said Marilla astonished
well no not exactly
stammered Matthew of course we cannot
keep her said Marilla what good would
she be to us we might be some good to
her said Matthew unexpectedly Matthew
Cuthbert I can see that you want to keep
her that girl has bewitched you well now
she's a real interesting little thing
said Matthew you should have heard her
talk coming from the station oh she can
talk all right I don't like children to
talk so much I don't want an orphan girl
and if I did it wouldn't be her
the next morning Anna woke and sat up in
bed for a moment she couldn't remember
where she was first she had a delightful
thrill and then a horrible memory this
was Green Gables and they didn't want
her because she wasn't a boy she got
dressed and went downstairs for
breakfast I'm pretty hungry this morning
she announced I'm glad it's such a sunny
morning but I like rainy mornings as
well all sorts of mornings are
interesting don't you think
you don't know what's going to happen
throughout the day anything could happen
for goodness sake be quiet said Marilla
Anne obeyed and was so silent that it
made Marilla nervous Matthew was also
quiet but this was natural
so the meal was a very silent one after
breakfast and washed the dishes and then
Marilla told her to go and play outside
Anne ran to the door excited then she
stopped suddenly came back and sat at
the table what's the matter now said
Marilla I can't go out said Anne it's no
use
loving Green Gables if I go out and meet
all those trees and flowers it'll just
be harder to leave Marilla thought in
all my life I never saw or heard
anything like it she is kind of
interesting as Matthew says I am already
wondering what she'll say next
but when evening came Marilla and Anne
got in the buggy and left Green Gables
they were on their way to mrs. Spencer's
house
you
mrs. Rachel Lynde lived on the main road
in Avonlea a town on Prince Edward
Island off the coast of Canada anybody
enjoy something if you try hard I'm not
going to think about going back to the
orphanage
I'm just going to think about the drive
oh look there's a wild rose