Exercise: What are these words?

to sigh

might

to divide

to imagine

tiny

Mrs. Spencer lived in a big yellow house, and she came to the door with surprise.

“Mrs. Spencer, there was a mistake somewhere and I’ve come to see where. We sent a word, Matthew and I, we told your brother to bring us a boy,” said Marilla.

“But my brother said you wanted a girl. It wasn’t my fault49, you see,” said Mrs. Spencer.

“Anyway, the mistake was made. Can we send the child back?” asked Marilla.

“I think so, but there’s no need sending her back as Mrs. Blewett was here yesterday and asked for a little girl from the children’s house.”

Marilla knew Mrs. Blewett only a little. A thin and very greedy50 woman with a bad temper51.

The doorbell rang and in came Mrs. Bewett. Mrs. Spencer was glad they could decide everything right there. Mrs. Spencer told her that if she still wanted a girl, she could take her.

Mrs. Blewett said that the girl had to earn52 her living, be smart and respect53 her. She was ready to take Anne.

Marilla looked at Anne’s face, so pale and sad. She understood that the girl would again go to the family where she wouldn’t be treated54 right. She also thought that if she left the child right there, she would never forgive55 herself.

“You know, I didn’t come here to send the child back, I just wanted to know how the mistake was made. Anyway, I need to talk with Matthew, I can’t do things without talking to him. I’ll take the child home and if Matthew says he doesn’t want to take the girl, I will send you a note and you can take her,” said Marilla.

Anne smiled when she heard this.

They came back home and Marilla told Matthew that she decided to let the girl stay. “I wouldn’t give a dog to that Blewett woman,” Matthew said.

Exercise: What are these words?

fault

greedy

to decide

to earn

to forgive

Exercise: Answer the questions.

1. What did Marilla feel when she heard Anne’s story?

2. Why did Marilla say she needed to talk with Metthew because she couldn’t decide without him?

“Now, Anne, I saw that you threw your clothes all over the floor last night. That’s not the right thing to do. You need to fold56 them.”

“I understand. I was so sad that I couldn’t think about it. I’ll fold them nicely tonight.”

“Now, say your prayers57 and go to bed,” said Marilla.

“But I never say prayers.”

“Don’t you know it’s bad when you don’t say prayers before going to bed?” asked Marilla. “Anne, if you leave under my roof, you need to say the prayers.”

“If you want me to, I will,” said Anne. “But I don’t understand why people say their prayers on their knees. If I wanted to say prayers, I would go into the field or into the forest and look at the blue-blue sky.”

When praying, Anne said thank you for what she had and also asked to stay here at Green Gables.

Marilla closed the door and went away to the kitchen. She told Matthew that they needed to teach the child a lot of things and send her to a Sunday school.

Exercise: What are these words?

knees

roof

prayer

to throw

to fold

Marilla didn’t tell Anne she was going to stay at Green Gables until the next afternoon. She gave her different tasks and watched how she did them. Marilla understood that Anne was smart and didn’t mind the work. Her only problem was daydreaming58 and imagining things.

Anne finished washing the dishes and came to Marilla. “Please, Mrs. Cuthbert, tell me if you are going to keep me or not.”

“You forgot to wash the towel59,” said Marilla. “Please do that and don’t ask any questions.”

Anne washed the towel, came to Marilla and asked her question again.

“Matthew and I decided to keep you. But you need to be a good girl.”

Anne started crying and said she was happy. She told she would do her best. “How should I call you? Mrs. Cuthbert?” asked Anne.

“No, you can just call me Marilla.”

“Marilla, do you think I will have a friend in Avonlea?”

“There’s a girl called Diana, she’s about your age and she lives not far from school. You might be friends. But you need to be a good girl and don’t talk foolish60 things. Her aunt won’t let Diana play with a girl who isn’t nice.”

“What’s Diana like? Her hair isn’t red, is it?” asked Anne.

“Diana is a very pretty little girl. She has black eyes. She’s good and smart. It will be good for you to have a real friend, so you stop your daydreaming.”

“I’m glad she’s pretty. Oh, look, there’s a bee. If I wasn’t a girl, I would like to be a bee.”

“Yesterday you wanted to be a seagull,” sniffed61 Marilla. “Now, stop talking, go to your room, learn the prayer62 and stay there until I call you to help me with tea.”

Exercise: Match the words.

towel

seagull

to sniff

to daydream

foolish

Anne spent two weeks at Green Gables and then Marilla’s friend, Mrs. Rachel came to visit them.

Mrs. Rachel told Marilla every detail about the flu63 she had had. Then she finally asked about what she came for.

“I’ve heard about you and Matthew. I’ve heard about the mistake with the boy. Couldn’t you send that girl back?” she asked.

“I think we could, but we decided not to. She has her faults, but I like her and she’s a real bright little thing,” answered Marilla.

Marilla asked Anne to come and see her friend. Anne came running after her walks in the garden, her face red, freckles64 more than ever and hair redder than ever before.

“Well, they didn’t pick you for your looks, that’s for sure65,” was Mrs. Rachel’s comment. She was famous for telling what she wanted without any fear. “Marilla, she’s so skinny and her hair is like carrots! Come here little child… so many freckles!”

Anne came to Mrs. Rachel, stood before her, face red with anger. “I hate you! I hate you!” cried Anne “How dare you66 call me skinny and ugly? You are a very rude67 and impolite68 woman!”