4 Morning at Green Gables

CHAPTER 4 Morning at Green Gables Sunlight poured through the window when Anne awoke and sat up in bed. A cherry tree was in full bloom, so close its branches brushed against the house. Anne was delighted—until she remembered she wouldn't be staying at Green Gables because she wasn't a boy! Anne could see the Lake of Shining Waters

and the house where the Barrys lived. Oh, how could she leave all of this? Marilla stepped into the room. "Time to get dressed," she said curtly. Marilla had no idea how to speak to the child so she sounded meaner than she intended. "Isn't it lovely?" said Anne. "It's a big tree but it doesn't give much fruit. Always small and wormy," said Marilla. "I don't mean just the tree, Miss Cuthbert. I mean everything is so lovely." Anne was once again close to tears. "Don't you feel as if you just love the whole world on a morning like this? And I hear the brook laughing all the way up here. I know you think it's silly since I won't be staying, but it doesn't matter. I want to remember everything!" "You'd better get dressed and come downstairs," Marilla said. "Never mind your dreaming."

Anne dressed and was at the kitchen table in ten minutes. "I'm pretty hungry this morning, Miss Cuthbert. Mornings are lovely, don't you think? It means the day is fresh and anything is possible." "Oh, please hold your tongue!" Marilla said as she sat down. "You talk too much, Anne Shirley." Anne did as Marilla asked and kept quiet. They ate the rest of their meal in silence. Marilla knew that Matthew—even though he said nothing—still wanted to keep Anne. Once Matthew set his mind to something, he rarely gave in. Marilla, however, was not convinced. "Can you wash dishes?" Marilla asked. "Pretty well," Anne said. "But I'm better with children. I've done so much of that!" "Fine." Marilla didn't dare ask about the children. She knew Anne would have a lot to

say on the subject. "When we've finished with the morning chores we'll go ask Mrs. Spencer to clear up this mess." Marilla kept a close eye on Anne while she washed the dishes. The girl did a fine job. However, Marilla didn't like the way she made her bed. But she decided to say nothing. "Why don't you go outside and play," Marilla said. "We'll leave shortly." Anne clapped her hands with joy and raced outside. She stopped suddenly on the porch and turned around. She came back into the kitchen with a sad face. "I don't dare go out," said Anne. "There's no use my loving Green Gables if I can't stay here. I would just get to know and love the brook and trees and then have to leave. It would be too hard, Miss Cuthbert. I know I

said just the opposite this morning—that I wanted to remember everything—but I simply can't do it. There's no use loving things if you must be torn from them, is there? If I must go back to the orphanage then I'd rather just go." Anne looked at the windowsill where a flowerpot sat. "Miss Cuthbert? What is the name of that flower?" "It's a tulip," said Marilla without looking up. "Oh, I don't mean that sort of name. I mean the name you gave it. Didn't you give it a name? May I name it? I think I will call it Bonny. That's a good name for a flower, don't you think?" "My goodness," said Marilla as she dropped her knitting into her lap. "What a silly thing, naming a plant! Who would do such a thing?"

"I like to name everything," said Anne. "It makes them seem more like people." "I've never heard such a silly thing." Marilla went back to her knitting. She had to admit that Anne was an interesting girl. It was easy to see why Matthew wanted her to stay. "It simply won't do," she thought to herself. "I will have to be strong." Matthew got the horse and buggy ready. As Marilla and Anne climbed into the seat he said, "Jerry Boot from down the road was here this morning. I told him that he could work here over the summer. So, Marilla, I'll have plenty of help." His sister did not respond. She flicked the reins and the mare started out the gates. They moved down the road and around the bend at a quick pace.