Anne of Green Gables Page #4

to a perfect heathen.

Good morning, Miss Cuthbert.

Where's Matthew?

He had his breakfast hours ago.

Been on the fields ever since.

Why?

I see I'll have to be up before the break

of day if I'm to say good morning to Matthew.

That is if...

If what?

Please, Miss Cuthbert, tell me

if you're gonna send me back.

I made up my mind to be patient,

but just can't bear it any longer.

Well, you'll just have to bear it,

because I simply don't know.

I thought maybe we'd put

it on trial for a while...

...for all our sakes.

Would that suit you?

If you think it's

necessary, Miss Cuthbert.

I do.

You may not be happy with

two old grumps like us.

I know I would be.

I'd be happier than even I can

imagine at this present moment.

Come.

While you're eating your

breakfast, I want you to learn that.

You need a little religion in your

life as bad as you need fattening up.

"Our Father, which art in

heaven, hallowed be thy name."

That is just like a line of music.

I'm glad you thought of making

me learn this, Miss Cuthbert.

Why, learn it then,

and hold your tongue.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, good Lord, here comes Rachel Lynde.

Anne, take that card into the parlor, and

then you come back here on your best behavior.

I don't want her

knowing you're a heathen.

Good morning, Marilla.

Come in, Rachel.

I'm shocked at this horrendous

mistake I've heard about.

I've gotten over the shock myself.

Couldn't you send her back?

Well, we're still considering on it.

Considering on it?

What is there to consider?

I mean, a boy would have

been bad enough, but..

This is a friend and neighbor of mine.

Mrs. Rachel Lynde. Anne Shirley.

How do you do, Mrs. Lynde?

Well, her looks are

certainly nothing to consider.

I mean she's terribly

skinny and homely, Marilla.

Come over here, child.

Lawful heart! Her hair

is as red as carrots!

How dare you say I'm skinny and...

carrots!

You're a rude, impolite,

unfeeling woman, and I hate you!

Anne Shirley!

How would you like to have

nasty things said about you?

How would you like to be told that you're

fat, and ugly, and a sour old gossip.

Anne Shirley! Anne Shirley, you

come back at once and apologize!

Mark my words, Marilla. That's the

kind to put strychnine in the well.

You shouldn't have twitted

her about her looks.

Marilla Cuthbert!

I'm not making excuses for her. Perhaps

she was never taught what was right,...

but you were too hard on her, Rachel.

I see I'll have to be very

careful what I say from now on.

Oh, I'm not vexed, Marilla. I'm too sorry for

you to leave any room for anger in my mind.

It's obvious to me that the good sense I admire in

you, left you when that child walked in your door!

Goodbye, Marilla. Come down

and see me when you can.

But don't expect me to visit here again

if I'm to be treated in such a fashion.

Goodbye, Rachel.

When I said trial, I had no

idea you'd take me literally.

Of all the people, you

would pick on Rachel Lynde.

She hadn't any right

to say what she did.

Rachel is too outspoken.

But she is your elder, a stranger, and

my guest, not to mention my friend...

all of them very good reasons

for you to have bit your tongue.

She deserves an apology.

You will go to her, and you will give it.

I can never do that.

You can punish me any way you like.

You can lock me up in a dark dungeon

inhabited by snakes and toads,

and feed me on bread and water.

I won't complain.

But I cannot ask Mrs. Lynde

to forgive me.

If you expect to remain under my

roof, you will apologize to Mrs. Lynde.

Then you'll have to send me back.

Rachel Lynde deserves what she gets.

Matthew Cuthbert, don't

form opinions for me.

Next you'll be saying she

oughtn't to be punished at all.

I haven't been upstairs in

this house in four years.

I guess you're leaving then, hunh?

Oh, Matthew, I'd rather die than apologize

to Mrs. Lynde. That would be so humiliating.

Well, Marilla is a

terrible determined woman.

You don't have to be exactly sorry, you know.

You can just be... sort of sorry.

I'm not sorry at all.

I hear Mrs. Blewett's

an awful work-horse.

And it'll be terrible lonesome

around here without you.

Couldn't you just

kind of smooth it over?

You really don't want me to go, do you?

I'd do anything for you, Matthew,

if you really wanted me to.

Of course I do.

I can't let Mrs. Lynde be

the cause of our parting.

I don't have to be really sorry...

I just have to remove the disgrace

I brought upon Marilla's good name.

Don't tell Marilla that I said anything.

She'll say I'm interfering.

Wild horses couldn't drag it from me.

Miss Cuthbert?

What is it?

I'm sorry I lost my temper

and said those rude things,

and I'm willing to go

and tell Mrs. Lynde so.

I think that's a wise decision.

I'll take you over first thing.

Now get up to bed, and don't

forget to say your prayers.

Yes, ma'am.

I knew that if we left her alone,

she'd come to her senses.

Hurry up, Anne.

What are you muttering about?

I was just imagining out what

I must say to Mrs. Lynde.

Miss Cuthbert, you look so elegant!

You don't make an important

visit in kitchen clothes.

I think amethysts are lovely. That's

what I used to imagine diamonds were like,

and then I saw a real

diamond in a ladies...

Oh, for goodness sake, child!

Bite your tongue, and come along.

Good morning Rachel.

Anne has something to say to you.

Mrs. Lynde,...

I'm extremely sorry

I behaved so terribly.

I disgraced my good friends who've let me stay

at Green Gables on trial, even though I'm not a boy.

I am wicked and ungrateful, and

I deserve to be cast out forever.

What you said was true;

I am skinny and ugly, and my hair is red.

What I said about you was true

too, only I shouldn't have said it.

Please, Mrs. Lynde, forgive me.

You wouldn't be so cruel as to inflict

a life-long sorrow on a poor orphan.

Please. Please, forgive me.

There, there, child,

of course I forgive you.

I guess I was a bit hard.

But you mustn't mind me; I'm known throughout

these parts as a woman who speaks her mind.

And don't worry about your hair.

I knew a girl once who had hair

every bit as red as yours,...

but when she grew up, it darkened

into a real handsome auburn.

You have given me hope, Mrs. Lynde.

I shall always think of you as a benefactress.

Marilla,...

what this child needs is

discipline and a proper education.

The Sunday School picnic is

scheduled this week for Barry's field.

I want you to take Anne, so she can meet

some civilized children her own age.

Her tongue appears to be hinged in the

middle, but she may turn out alright.

I'm sure you're right, Rachel.

And trial or no trial, you ought

to put the girl into school.

Putting you in school

doesn't mean a decision.

It's just as easy to take

you out as put you in.

I understand, Miss Cuthbert, but it

does give a person reason to hope.

I've seen some shocking

behavior from you, Anne Shirley,

and it does give a person

reason to doubt. Understand?

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