While You Read

Matthew Cuthbert and his horse traveled to Bright River Station. Matthew enjoyed being alone. He was afraid of most women except Marilla and Mrs Rachel. Other women laughed at him because he looked strange.

At Bright River Station Matthew thought he was too early. There was no train. On the platform there was a young girl waiting. Matthew did not come for a girl. He went to speak to the stationmaster.

'The train arrived thirty minutes ago,' said the stationmaster. 'There is a passenger for you. She's standing on the platform. She wanted to stay outside. She is strange.'

'I'm not here for a girl,' said Matthew. 'I came for a boy. He was coming from Nova Scotia.'

'Well, I don't know,' said the stationmaster. 'The girl is for you. I don't have any other orphans here for you.'

'I don't understand,' said Matthew.

'Well, ask the girl,' said the stationmaster. 'She can explain. She likes talking. Maybe they didn't have any boys to send today.'

Matthew felt very nervous. He was afraid of speaking to girls or women he didn't know.

The girl was about eleven. She was unusual looking. She was wearing an ugly yellow dress and an old brown hat. And her long red hair was in two plaits. Matthew felt afraid.

'Are you Mr Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables?' said the girl. 'It's very nice to meet you. I thought you weren't coming.'

'I'm sorry I was late,' said Matthew. 'Come. The horse is over there. Give me your bag.'

'Oh, I can carry it,' the girl said happily. 'Oh, I'm very glad you're here. Oh, it is so wonderful. I'm going to belong to you. I didn't belong to anybody in the past. I was at the orphanage for four months. An orphanage is a terrible place. It's worse than anything you can imagine.'

Matthew decided not to tell the girl there was a mistake. Marilla was good at these situations.

Matthew and Anne got into the buggy. They drove out of the village. Then the girl started talking again.

'I love pretty clothes. I don't have a pretty dress. Can I have a pretty dress? Oh, dear! Am I talking too much? People always tell me that I talk too much. Do you want me to stop talking? I can stop when I decide. But it is difficult.'

Matthew felt good, surprisingly. He did not expect to enjoy Anne's company. But this girl was very different. He liked listening to her. So he said shyly:

'Oh, talk as much as you like. I don't mind.'

The girl continued, 'Oh, I'm so glad. I know you and I are going to be good friends. I do like talking. I don't like being told to be quiet. People tell me to be quiet all the time.'

And she continued talking, and talked nearly all the way to Green Gables.

'That's Green Gables over...' said Matthew.

'Oh, don't tell me,' said the girl. Her eyes were shut. 'I want to guess. I'm sure I can guess right.'

She opened her eyes. They were on the top of a hill. She saw a star over a house. 'That's it, isn't it?' she said, pointing to Green Gables.

'You guessed it!' said Matthew. The horse started moving again.

'I felt it was home immediately. Oh, I can't believe this is true.'

They arrived at Green Gables. Matthew was feeling very bad. He was not worried about Marilla. He was very worried about disappointing this young girl.

The girl followed Matthew into the house. Marilla was waiting to meet an orphan boy.

Matthew opened the door. The person with him shocked Marilla. 'Matthew Cuthbert, who is that? Where is the boy?' said Marilla angrily.

'There was no boy,' said Matthew sadly. 'There was only this girl.'

'No boy! But there must be a boy,' said Marilla. 'We asked Mrs Spencer for a boy.'

'Well, she gave us a girl. There is definitely a mistake. But I had to bring the girl home. It's not right to leave a girl at the station.'

'Well, this is a terrible situation,' said Marilla.

The girl was silent.

'You don't want me,' she said suddenly. 'You don't want me because I'm not a boy. I knew it. Nobody wants me. Oh, I'm going to cry.'

The girl started crying. Then she sat down and cried harder. Marilla and Matthew didn't know what to say or do.

'There's no need to cry about it,' said Marilla.

'Yes, there is,' said the girl, crying. 'I thought I had a home. Then you say you don't want me because I'm not a boy. Oh, this is terrible.'

Marilla felt her heart soften.

'Well, don't cry now. We're not going to send you back tonight. We can investigate tomorrow. What's your name?'

'Can you please call me Cordelia?' asked the girl.

'Is that your name?' asked Marilla.

'No, it's not. But I love the name Cordelia. It's such an elegant name.'

'What is your real name?' asked Marilla.

'Anne Shirley,' said the girl slowly, 'But, please call me Cordelia. I'm not going to be here long. And Anne is such an unromantic name.'

'Unromantic, nonsense!' said Marilla. 'Anne is a sensible name.'

'Can you please remember to call me Anne spelled with an E?'

'What difference does it make how it's spelled?' asked Marilla.

'Oh, it makes a big difference. It looks much nicer.'

'Okay, Anne spelled with an E. Why are you here? We asked for a boy. Were there no boys at the orphanage? We want a boy to help Matthew on the farm. A girl is useless,' said Marilla.

'Oh, yes, there were lots of boys. But Mrs Spencer definitely told the orphanage that you wanted a girl. A girl around eleven years old. I was so happy that I didn't sleep last night.'

Anne turned to Matthew.

'Oh, why didn't you tell me at the station that you didn't want me', she said. 'Why didn't you leave me there?'

'I'm going to put the horse in, Marilla,' said Matthew quickly. 'Have dinner ready when I get back.'

Later they all sat down to eat dinner. But Anne could not eat.

'I can't eat,' she said. 'I'm in the depths of despair. How can you eat when you are in the depths of despair?'

'I don't get that sad,' said Marilla.

'Well, can't you try to imagine you are in the depths of despair?'

'No, I can't.'

'Well, you can't understand it. It's a very uncomfortable feeling. You can't swallow. You can't even eat chocolate. I do hope you're not offended because I can't eat.'

'I think she's tired,' said Matthew. 'It is best that Anne goes to bed, Marilla.'

After putting Anne to bed, Marilla went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Matthew was smoking his pipe.

'Well, this is a disaster,' she said angrily. 'I must see Mrs Spencer tomorrow. This girl must go back to the orphanage.'

'Yes, I suppose so,' said Matthew.

'You suppose so. Don't you agree?'

'Well, she's a nice girl, Marilla. It's a pity to send her back. She really wants to stay.'

'No! What can she do for us?'

'We can do something for her,' said Matthew.

'Matthew Cuthbert, I believe that child has charmed you. You want to keep her.'

'She's a really interesting girl,' said Matthew. 'The way she talks.'

'Oh, she can talk. I heard that immediately. Talking is not a good thing. No, she has to go back immediately.'

'I can hire a French boy to help me,' said Matthew, 'and Anne can be company for you.'

'I don't need more company,' said Marilla. 'And I'm not going to keep her.'

'Of course, Marilla,' said Matthew. He put his pipe away. 'I'm going to bed.'

Marilla finished putting the dishes away. She went to bed unhappily.

Upstairs Anne cried herself to sleep.

When woke up she didn't know where she was. Suddenly she remembered. This was Green Gables. Marilla and Matthew didn't want her because she wasn't a boy.

But it was a beautiful morning. Anne looked out of the window. Green Gables was lovely. But she wasn't going to stay here.

Suddenly Marilla interrupted Anne's daydream.

'Get dressed, Anne,' said Marilla.

'Oh, isn't it wonderful?' said Anne.

'What? The cherry tree?' asked Marilla. 'It has nice flowers. But the cherries aren't very good.'

'Oh, I don't mean only the tree. I meant everything. You think it doesn't make a difference because you're not going to keep me. But I want to remember everything. I'm not in the depths of despair this morning. But I feel very sad.'

'Get dressed and stop feeling sad,' said Marilla. 'Breakfast is waiting. Make your bed. Be quick.'

Anne was very quick. She did almost everything in ten minutes. But she forgot about the bed.

'I'm quite hungry this morning,' said Anne. 'The world doesn't seem such a dark place now. I'm so glad it's sunny. I like rainy mornings, too. But difficult situations are easier on a sunny day.'

'Oh, be quiet,' said Marilla. 'You talk too much.'

During breakfast, Anne acted strangely. She ate mechanically. She was staring out the window. What person wants a girl like this in their home?

But Matthew wanted to keep her. Marilla understood Matthew's silently persistence.

When the meal ended Anne offered to wash the dishes.

Anne washed the dishes quickly. Marilla watched carefully. Later Anne made her bed less successfully. She didn't know how to make a bed.

Marilla then told Anne to play outside until lunch. 'After lunch we are going to see Mrs Spencer to resolve the situation,' Marilla explained.

Anne ran to the door. Suddenly she stopped and sat down. She was very sad.

'What's wrong now?' demanded Marilla.

'I don't want to go out,' said Anne. 'I can't stay here. I don't want to see Green Gables. I don't want to love things. Then I have to leave them. I don't think I can go out. What is the name of that geranium by the window, please?'

'That's an apple-scented geranium.'

'Oh, I don't mean that sort of name. Didn't you give it a name? Can I call it Bonny? That's a nice name. Can I call it Bonny for now?'

'Goodness, I don't care. Geraniums don't have names.'

'Oh, I like all things to have names. It makes them seem more like people. Imagine being called "a geranium". You can't be happy just being called "woman".'

'She's unusual,' thought Marilla. 'And Matthew's right: she's interesting. She has charmed Matthew and now she's charming me.'

Marilla made lunch. They ate and then she asked Matthew to get the horse and buggy ready.

'I'm going to see Mrs Spencer to resolve this,' said Marilla. 'I'm taking Anne with me.'

Matthew was silent.

As Marilla and Anne were leaving Matthew said:

'Jerry Buote was here this morning. I'm going to hire him for the summer.'

Marilla was silent. She hit the horse hard and made it gallop. Matthew watched Marilla and Anne leave.

'I'm going to enjoy this drive,' Anne said. 'Oh, look, there's a wild rose. Pink is a wonderful color. But redheaded people can't wear pink. Do you think red hair can change color?'

'No, I don't,' said Marilla. 'Now, I know you like talking, so tell me about your life.'

'Oh, what I know about me isn't very interesting,' said Anne. 'I can tell you what I imagine.'

'No, I just want the facts,' said Marilla. 'Begin at the beginning. Where were you born and how old are you?'

'I was eleven last March,' said Anne. 'And I was born in Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia. My father's name was Walter Shirley. He was a teacher. My mother's name was Bertha Shirley. I'm so glad my parents had nice names. My mother was a teacher before she married my father. They were poor. I was three months old when my mother died. And my father died four days later. That left me an orphan. Nobody wanted me. Father and mother didn't have relatives.'

'Then Mrs Thomas took me,' Anne continued. 'She was poor and she had a drunken husband. Mrs Thomas was very strict. I was naughty sometimes but she was fair.' I lived with them until I was eight years old. I helped look after her four children. Then Mr Thomas died. His mother offered to take Mrs Thomas and the children but not me.

Then Mrs Hammond took me because she knew I was good with children. She had eight children. She had twins three times. I like babies, but twins three times is too much. I lived with Mrs Hammond for about two years. Then Mr Hammond died and Mrs Hammond went to the USA. I went to the orphanage at Hopeton. I was there four months until Mrs Spencer came.

Anne finished her story. She didn't like talking about her life.

'Did you go to school?' asked Marilla.

'I went for a year. I didn't go to school when I lived with Mrs Hammond. But I went at the orphanage. I can read quite well. I can remember lots of poetry.'

'Were Mrs Thomas and Mrs Hammond good to you?' asked Marilla.

'Oh,' said Anne. 'People want to be good to you. But they had a lot to worry about. Bad husbands and lots of children.'

Marilla asked no more questions. She suddenly thought Matthew's idea to keep Anne was not impossible.

Marilla and Anne arrived at Mrs Spencer's house.

'I didn't expect to see you two today. How are you, Anne?'

'I'm okay, thank you,' said Anne. She didn't smile.

'Do you want some tea, Marilla?' asked Mrs Spencer.

'Yes,' said Marilla. 'But I can't stay long. You see, Mrs Spencer, someone made a mistake. We sent a message through your brother that we wanted a boy.'

'Oh no!' said Mrs Spencer. 'My brother told his daughter. Then she told us that you wanted a girl. I'm so sorry.'

'It was our fault,' said Marilla. 'Now let's make it right. Can we send the child back to the orphanage?'

'I suppose so,' said Mrs Spencer, thoughtfully, 'but we don't need to send her back. Mrs Blewett was here yesterday. She said that she wanted a little girl. Anne is perfect for her.'

Marilla knew about Mrs Blewett. She was a mean employer. Her children were difficult, too. Marilla felt bad about sending Anne to this woman.

'Well, let's talk about it,' said Marilla.

'Oh, look! Here comes Mrs Blewett,' said Mrs Spencer. 'Good afternoon, Mrs Blewett. Let me introduce you.'

Mrs Blewett looked at Anne.

'How old are you and what's your name?' Mrs Blewett asked.

'Anne Shirley,' said Anne, 'and I'm eleven years old.' She did not talk about the spelling of her name.

'Well, you don't look very strong. You have to be smart and respectful at my house. I expect you to work. Yes, I can take her now, Miss Cuthbert.'

Marilla looked at Anne. Anne looked scared. Marilla was not going to give Anne to Mrs Blewett. She did not trust this woman.

'Well, I don't know,' said Marilla. 'I think Matthew wants to keep Anne. I want to take her home again and talk to Matthew. Is that okay, Mrs Blewett?'

'I suppose it is,' said Mrs Blewett.

Mrs Spencer and Mrs Blewett left the room. Anne was relieved. Suddenly she ran to Marilla.

'Oh, Miss Cuthbert, did you really say that I can stay at Green Gables?' she whispered. 'Or did I only imagine it?'

'Yes, I said that,' said Marilla. 'It isn't decided. Mrs Blewett needs you more than I do.'

'I want to go back to the orphanage. I can't live with her,' said Anne. 'She looks very mean.'

Marilla tried not to smile.

'A little girl can't talk about a lady like that,' said Marilla. 'Go and sit quietly. Be a good girl.'

'I can try to be anything you want. I want you to keep me,' said Anne. And she sat down again.

Later that evening, Matthew came out to meet Anne and Marilla when they arrived at Green Gables. He was happy to see them both.

Marilla put Anne to bed. Then she told Matthew about Anne's history. She also told him about Mrs Blewett.

'Mrs Blewett is a mean woman,' said Matthew.

'I don't like her, either,' said Marilla. 'I was thinking about keeping Anne. I don't know much about children, but I can do my best. She can stay.'

Matthew was delighted.

'I am so glad, Marilla,' he said. 'She's an interesting child.'

'A useful child is better,' said Marilla, 'but I can train her to be useful. And, Matthew, you can't interfere. Perhaps I don't know much about raising a child. But I know more than you.'

'Of course, Marilla,' said Matthew. 'Be kind without spoiling her. I think love is the key.'

Marilla decided to tell Anne the news the next day.

The next day Anne finished washing the lunch dishes. She turned to Marilla.

'Oh, please, Miss Cuthbert, can I stay? I really need to know. Please tell me.'

'Well,' said Marilla, 'Yes, you can stay. You must try to be a good girl. What's wrong?'

'Oh, I'm so happy,' said Anne with tears in her eyes.

'Maybe you're very excited,' said Marilla. 'Matthew and I promise to try to be good to you. You must go to school. But in two weeks school stops for the summer. So you can start in September.'

'What can I call you?' asked Anne. 'Can I call you Aunt Marilla?'

'No, just call me Marilla.'

'"Marilla" doesn't sound polite,' replied Anne.

'Everyone calls me Marilla.'

'I really want to call you Aunt Marilla,' said Anne thoughtfully. 'I haven't got any aunts. Can't I call you Aunt Marilla? We can imagine you are my aunt.'

'No,' said Marilla firmly.

'Do you never imagine things?' asked Anne.

'No.'

'Oh, Marilla! That's sad!'

'Marilla, do you think that I can have a best friend in Avonlea?'

'What kind of friend?'

'A best friend. A very close friend. I dream of meeting her. I can tell all my secrets to her.'

'Diana Barry lives near. She's the same age as you. Maybe she can be your friend. She's not home now, but when she comes back you can meet her. Her mother, Mrs Barry, is a very unusual woman. She doesn't allow Diana to play with bad girls. You have to be careful how you behave.'

'What is Diana like? I hope she doesn't have red hair.'

'Diana is a pretty girl. She has black eyes and black hair. And she is good and smart. That's better than being pretty.'

Marilla liked morals. She thought that a moral was always necessary.

But Anne didn't hear the moral. She was interested in her new friend.

'Oh, I'm so glad she's pretty. I can't be beautiful so a beautiful best friend is wonderful.'

After two weeks Mrs Rachel Lynde went to visit Marilla.

"I heard there was a mistake with the orphan child," said Mrs Rachel. "Did you not want to send her back?"

"We decided not to. Matthew likes her. And I like her, too. The house seems different already. She's a bright child."

"You have a big responsibility," said Mrs Rachel. "You don't have any experience with children."

"I'm not discouraged," said Marilla. "I decided. And that's all. Do you want to meet Anne?"

Anne ran inside happily. She stopped suddenly when she saw the stranger.

Mrs Rachel studied Anne. Anne's clothes were very strange. There were lots of freckles on her face. And her hair was very red.

"Well, you're not pretty," Mrs Rachel said. Mrs Rachel always said what she thought.

"You're very skinny and plain. Come here, I want to look at you. Look at your freckles. And your hair is as red as carrots."

Anne stared at Mrs Rachel. Anne's face became redder than her hair!

"I hate you," screamed Anne. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! How dare you call me skinny and plain! How dare you say I'm freckled and redheaded! You are a very rude woman."

Marilla went to Anne's bedroom. On the way she thought about Anne's punishment.

"Anne, aren't you ashamed of your behavior?" asked Marilla.

"She was mean calling me plain and redheaded," cried Anne.

"You were mean, too. And your behavior disgraced me. You often say you have red hair. You complain about not being pretty."

"Oh, but it's different with me saying it," said Anne. "She said terrible things. I had to say something."

Suddenly Marilla had an idea.

"You must go to Mrs Rachel and apologize."

"I can't do that," said Anne. "You can put me in a prison with snakes. But I cannot ask Mrs Rachel to forgive me."

The next morning Marilla told Matthew about Anne's behavior.

"Rachel Lynde is a terrible gossip. I think Anne did a good thing," said Matthew.

"Matthew Cuthbert! I suppose you think that no punishment is necessary?"

"Well, I think a little punishment is necessary," said Matthew. "Remember nobody ever taught her before."

"She stays in her room until she's ready to apologize to Mrs Rachel. That's final, Matthew," said Marilla.

Breakfast, dinner and supper were very silent meals. Anne stayed in her room.

Matthew waited for Marilla to go outside. Secretly he went to Anne's room.

Anne was by the window. She looked unhappy. Matthew felt sad.

"Anne, how about doing it? Then you can eat with us again," he whispered.

"Do you mean 'apologize' to Mrs Rachel?"

"Yes. Apologize. That's the word," said Matthew. "Say it."

"I can do it for you," said Anne. "I am sorry now. I wasn't sorry last night. But this morning I felt so ashamed. But I didn't want to tell Mrs Rachel. It is so humiliating. But do you want me to do it for you?"

"Yes, I do. It's very lonely without you."

"Okay," said Anne. "I'm ready to apologize."

"Good, Anne. But don't tell Marilla I spoke to you."

"I promise," said Anne.

On the way to Mrs Rachel's house Anne's mood changed. Suddenly she became very happy. Marilla was worried about this sudden change.

As soon as Anne saw Mrs Rachel, she knelt at Mrs Rachel's feet.

"Oh, Mrs Rachel, I am so very sorry," said Anne. "I behaved terribly. I disgraced Matthew and Marilla. It was very bad of me to get so angry because you told the truth. What I said to you was also true. But I was wrong to say it. Oh, Mrs Rachel, please forgive me."

"Stand up, child," said Mrs Rachel. "I forgive you. I was a little too honest. But I do tell the truth. Don't take my words seriously. It's true that your hair is very red. But hair can get darker."

"Oh, Mrs Rachel," Anne stood. "Oh, imagining my hair darker is so wonderful. Now can I go to your garden? I can imagine better out there."

"She's strange but there's something nice about her," said Mrs Rachel. "I understand why you kept her now. She does need training. A child with a quick temper probably isn't dishonest. I think I like her."

Marilla and Anne walked home. It was getting dark.

"Do you think I apologized well?" asked Anne.

"You did apologize well," said Marilla. "I hope you don't need to make many more apologies. You need to control your temper, Anne."

"That isn't so hard. But I'm so tired of being teased about my hair," said Anne. "It makes me really angry."

"I love Green Gables already," said Anne. "No place seemed like home before. Oh, Marilla, I'm so happy."

It was a Sunday morning. Anne was in her bedroom looking at three new dresses on the bed. There was a brown dress, a black-and-white one and an ugly blue one.

Marilla made the dresses. All three were very simple.

"Anne, do you like your new dresses?" asked Marilla.

"I can imagine that I like them," said Anne sadly.

"Oh, I can see that you don't like the dresses. But they are new. Why don't you like them?"

"They're... they're not... pretty," said Anne.

"You are vain, Anne," said Marilla. "They are sensible dresses. The blue and the brown dresses can be for school. The black-and-white one can be for church and Sunday school. You must be grateful to have new dresses."

"Oh, I am grateful," said Anne. "But I really wanted a white dress with puffy sleeves. I prayed for one."

"You do say ridiculous things," said Marilla. "Now put on the black-and-white one for Sunday school and come downstairs."

Anne wore the black-and-white dress and a hat but she felt very plain. As she was walking to Sunday school she saw some roses. She picked them and put them in her hat. This made her feel prettier.

"Well, how was Sunday school?" asked Marilla, when Anne got home.

"I didn't like it. It was horrible. I behaved well. No one talked to me. There were nine girls. They all had puffy sleeves."

"Anne," said Marilla, "I want you to be good. But listen, I have some news for you. Diana Barry came home this afternoon. We can go meet Diana together."

"Oh, Marilla, I'm frightened. Oh, I hope she doesn't hate me. Oh, how tragic!"

"Now, don't worry. Diana is going to like you. But Mrs Barry chooses Diana's friends. So you must be very polite. And don't say anything silly."

Anne was trembling. She was excited to meet Diana, but she was also afraid of Mrs Barry.

Anne and Marilla walked to Mrs Barry's house. Mrs Barry answered the door.

"How do you do, Marilla?" said Mrs Barry politely. "Come in. And is this your adopted girl?"

"Yes, this is Anne Shirley," said Marilla.

"Spelled with an E," said Anne.

Mrs Barry didn't respond. She shook hands. Then she said kindly: "How are you?"

"I am well in body but considerably disturbed in spirit, thank you," Anne said seriously.

Diana was sitting on the sofa. She was reading. She was a very pretty girl. She had her mother's black eyes and hair and a very happy face.

"This is my daughter Diana," said Mrs Barry. "Diana, take Anne outside into the garden to play."

The girls went outside.

Anne and Diana stood in the garden. They were looking at each other shyly.

"Oh, Diana," said Anne. "Do you think you can like me enough to be my best friend?"

"I think so," said Diana. "I'm very glad you came to Green Gables. It's great to have somebody to play with."

"Do you swear to be my friend forever and ever?" asked Anne. Diana nodded her head and the girls swore to be friends forever.

"You're a strange girl, Anne," said Diana. "But I'm going to like you a lot."

Later Matthew gave Anne a box of chocolates.

"Chocolates are bad for her," said Marilla. "Anne, don't look so sad. You can eat them. But don't eat all of them at once."

"Oh, no, certainly not," said Anne happily. "I can eat one tonight, Marilla. And I can give Diana half of them. It's wonderful that I have something to give Diana."

It was a hot August afternoon.

"Oh, Marilla, there's going to be a Sunday school picnic next week. And someone is going to make ice cream. Marilla, ice cream. Can I go?"

"Anne. What time did I tell you to come in?"

"Two o'clock. But isn't it wonderful about the picnic, Marilla? Please can I go? I dreamed of picnics, but I never..."

"Yes, I told you to come at two o'clock. It's a quarter to three. Why didn't you obey me, Anne?"

"I wanted to, Marilla, I really did. But I went to tell Matthew about the picnic before coming in. Please can I go?"

"You must learn to obey my orders. As for the picnic, of course you can go. All the other girls from Sunday school are going, aren't they?"

"Yes, but..." said Anne. She was worried. "I must take some food. I can't cook, Marilla. I can go to a picnic without puffy sleeves. But I can't go without food. I am very worried."

"Well, stop worrying. I can cook something."

"Oh Marilla, you are so kind to me. I'm so grateful for everything."

Marilla wore her amethyst brooch to church that Sunday. The brooch was Marilla's favorite possession. It had a border of tiny amethysts. It was special to Marilla because it was from her mother. Anne saw and admired the brooch.

"Oh, Marilla, it's a very elegant brooch. I don't know how you can concentrate in church with the brooch right here. Can I hold the brooch for one minute?"

Then on Monday evening before the picnic Marilla was looking for her brooch.

"Do you know where my amethyst brooch is? I can't find it anywhere."

"I was passing your bedroom this afternoon," said Anne, slowly. "I saw the brooch. Then I put it on for one minute to see how it looked."

"Anne don't ever go into my bedroom without an invitation. Where did you leave it?"

"I left it on the table. I'm sorry, Marilla. I promise never to do it again. I never do the same naughty thing again."

Marilla looked everywhere. But she couldn't find the brooch.

"Anne, the brooch is gone. Did you lose it?"

Anne looked directly at Marilla. "No, I didn't take the brooch from your room."

"You are lying, Anne," said Marilla, angrily. "Go to your room until you are ready to confess."

Anne went to her bedroom.

Wednesday morning arrived. It was the day of the picnic. It was a perfect day. Anne was sitting very still on her bed. Marilla entered Anne's bedroom.

"Marilla, I'm ready to confess."

"Well, tell me," said Marilla.

"I took the brooch," said Anne. She spoke mechanically. "I took it because I wanted to play with it. I wanted to imagine I was a lady with an expensive brooch. I took it outside. Then, when I was walking over the bridge by the lake the brooch fell from my hand. It sank to the bottom of the lake. And that's my best confession, Marilla."

Marilla was angry. Anne lost the brooch and didn't feel guilty.

"Anne, this is terrible," Marilla said. "You are very naughty."

"Yes. I know I have to be punished," agreed Anne calmly. "Please do it now. I want to go to the picnic without guilt."

"You are not going to the picnic. That is your punishment."

"What?" Anne stood suddenly. "Oh, Marilla, that was why I confessed. Any punishment except that. Oh, Marilla, please, can I go to the picnic? Please."

"You are not going to the picnic."

Anne threw her body on the bed and cried.

After lunch Marilla remembered she had to repair her shawl.

The shawl was in a box on the table in her room. Marilla lifted it. It seemed that something was attached to the shawl. It glittered. It was the amethyst brooch.

"Oh dear," said Marilla, "Here's my brooch. But Anne said she took it and lost it."

Marilla went to Anne's bedroom with the brooch.

"Anne," said Marilla. "I found my brooch attached to my shawl. Why did you invent that story this morning?"

"Well, you said I must stay in my bedroom until I confessed," said Anne, "So I invented a story. But then you said I wasn't going to the picnic. So my work was wasted."

"Anne, that is ridiculous," said Marilla. "I was wrong. I made you confess. Please forgive me, Anne. I can forgive you and we can start again. And now get ready for that picnic."

That night after the picnic, a very happy Anne returned to Green Gables.

"Oh, Marilla, everything was lovely today. We had a wonderful tea. Then we went in a boat on the lake. And we had ice cream. Oh Marilla, it was superb."

It was September and Anne started school with Diana. Marilla was worried about Anne starting school. But Anne came home very happy after her first day.

"I think I'm going to like school," said Anne. "The teacher's name is Mr Philips. But I don't like him very much."

"Anne Shirley," said Marilla. "You don't go to school to criticize the teacher. Your job is to learn. I hope you behaved."

"I did," said Anne. "There are lots of nice girls in school. I'm not as good as the others. They're all on the Grade 5 book. I'm only on the Grade 4 book. I feel a little ashamed. But there's nobody with my imagination."

Three weeks later, Anne and Diana were walking happily to school together.

"I think Gilbert Blythe is coming back to school today," said Diana. "He was away visiting his cousins. He's very handsome. And he teases the girls a lot."

Anne didn't know much about Gilbert.

"Gilbert is in our class," said Diana. "He's only on the Grade 4 book but he's almost fourteen. You're going to have some competition with Gilbert."

"I'm glad," said Anne. "I can't really be proud of being the best of the younger boys and girls.

Later in the classroom Diana whispered to Anne, "That's Gilbert Blythe over there. Do you think he's handsome?"

Anne looked. Gilbert Blythe was tying Ruby Gillis' hair to the seat. He was handsome. Suddenly Ruby Gillis tried to stand. She screamed. Everybody looked. Mr Phillips looked angrily at Ruby. Gilbert pretended he was innocent. Then he looked at Anne and winked at her.

"I think Gilbert Blythe is handsome," said Anne. "But winking at a stranger isn't polite."

Later in the afternoon Mr Phillips was explaining something to Ruby Gillis. The other students were playing. Gilbert Blythe was trying to get Anne's attention. Anne was daydreaming.

Suddenly, Gilbert grabbed Anne's red hair and whispered: "Carrots! Carrots!"

Anne was furious.

"You mean, terrible boy!" she said angrily.

Then Anne hit Gilbert on the head with her slate. The slate broke in half.

"Anne, what are you doing?" said Mr Phillips. Anne didn't answer.

Then Gilbert spoke, "It was my fault Mr Phillips. I teased her."

Mr Phillips ignored Gilbert.

"You have a terrible temper, Anne," said Mr Phillips. "Stand in front of the blackboard, and you can stay there all afternoon."

Anne was mortified. She obeyed Mr Phillips.

Then Mr Phillips wrote:

"Ann Shirley has a very bad temper. Ann Shirley must learn to control her temper."

When school finished Anne left proudly. She was too angry to cry. She was never speaking to Gilbert Blythe ever again.

Gilbert tried to apologize. Anne ignored him.

"Oh you must forgive Gilbert, Anne," said Diana.

"I can't," said Anne. "And Mr Phillips spelled my name without an E."

"You mustn't worry about Gilbert teasing you," said Diana. "He teases all the girls. But he never apologized before."

"Gilbert Blythe hurt my feelings terribly, Diana," said Anne.

The next day Mr Phillips warned the class not to be late after lunch. "Late students are going to be punished," he said.

After lunch Anne ran into the classroom while Mr Phillips was hanging up his hat. The boys arrived a few seconds later.

Mr Phillips was too lazy to punish everyone. He found a scapegoat.

"Anne Shirley, you were late. As a punishment you can sit with the boys. Sit beside Gilbert Blythe," he said.

The other boys laughed. Anne stared at Mr Phillips.

She hesitated. Then she sat beside Gilbert Blythe.

Sitting with a boy was terrible. But sitting next to Gilbert was the worst punishment. She felt angry and humiliated.

When school was finished Anne went to her own desk. She removed everything.

As they were walking home Anne told Diana she was never going to school again. Then later she told Marilla the same thing.

Marilla was going to a meeting and Anne was allowed to invite Diana for tea. Marilla suggested some special food. There was some raspberry cordial, too. Marilla told Anne the cordial was on the second shelf of the sitting-room cupboard. Anne was really excited about the raspberry cordial.

Diana came over dressed in her second-best dress. Usually she ran into Anne's kitchen, but today she knocked at the front door.

The two girls chatted like grown-ups for a few minutes inside. Then they forgot to be dignified and they went outside to play. Diana also had so much to tell Anne about school. Diana said that everybody missed Anne. They wished she was at school again.

At last it was time to have the raspberry cordial. Anne looked on the second shelf of the cupboard but there was nothing there. She found it on the top shelf.

Politely Anne offered Diana some cordial on the veranda. She went into the kitchen to prepare the food. Diana sat drinking the cordial.

When Anne came back from the kitchen, Diana was drinking her third glass of cordial.

"This cordial is so much nicer than Mrs Rachel's," said Diana.

"Yes, Marilla is a great cook," said Anne. Then she added, "Diana are you alright?"

"I suddenly feel very sick," she said. "I have to go home."

"Oh, Diana, are you really sick?" said Anne. "Wait for your tea."

"I must go home," repeated Diana. "I am very dizzy."

Anne walked Diana halfway home. She was very disappointed.

The next day Anne stayed at home all day. On Monday afternoon Anne went to Mrs Rachel's on an errand but she came home again quickly.

"What's wrong, Anne?" asked Marilla. "Were you rude to Mrs Rachel again?"

Anne was crying.

"Anne Shirley, tell me why you are crying," said Marilla.

"Mrs Rachel said that Mrs Barry was very angry," said Anne. "Mrs Barry said that I got Diana drunk on Saturday. I am never going to be able to play with Diana again."

"Anne what did you give Diana to drink?" asked Marilla.

"I gave her raspberry cordial," cried Anne. "Three glasses of cordial doesn't make you drunk."

"Drunk, nonsense!" Marilla opened the cupboard. There was a bottle of currant wine on the shelf.

"Anne, you gave Diana currant wine and not raspberry cordial. Didn't you know the difference?"

"I didn't taste it," said Anne. "I wanted to be polite. Then Diana got very sick. Mrs Barry doesn't believe that I didn't do it on purpose."

"I think Diana was very greedy," said Marilla. "Three glasses of any drink can make anyone sick."

Marilla went to speak to Mrs Barry and explain the situation. But Mrs Barry didn't believe Marilla.

So Anne went to see Mrs Barry. But Mrs Barry didn't believe Anne, either.

Mrs Barry made a decision: Anne and Diana were no longer able to be friends.

And that was final.

The next day Diana was allowed to come to Green Gables to explain Mrs Barry's decision.

"Oh Anne," said Diana with tears in her eyes. "Mother says I can never play with you again. I'm here to say goodbye. I can only stay ten minutes. She's counting the minutes."

"Ten minutes isn't very long to say an eternal farewell," said Anne. She was crying, too, now. "Oh, Diana, promise never to forget me. Promise even when you meet dearer friends."

Anne watched her friend leave. It was sad and romantic.

"It's all over," Anne informed Marilla later. "It's worse to lose a friend than not to have one. Diana gave me some of her hair. I'm going to put it in a little bag. If I die, please leave the bag with me. I don't think I am going to live very long, Marilla."

The following morning Anne surprised Marilla. She was dressed to go to school.

Anne was welcomed back to school. Everyone was happy to see her.

Diana sat next to Gertie Pye and did not look at Anne at all.

"Diana did not even smile at me," said Anne to Marilla that night. But the next morning at school Anne received a parcel.

Dear Anne,

Mother says I can't play with you or talk to you even at school. Remember I love you lots. I miss telling you my secrets. I don't like Gertie Pye. I made you a bookmark from some paper. When you look at it remember me.

Your true friend,

Diana Barry

Anne read the note and kissed the bookmark. She replied.

My darling Diana,

Of course you have to obey your mother. Our spirits can speak. I am going to keep your present forever.