Anne of Green Gables Page #5

My temper will never get the better of

me again, even though I am red-haired.

I hope not.

Good behavior in the first place

is more important than

theatrical apologies afterwards.

Since, I had to do it, I thought

I might as well do it thoroughly.

Save your thoroughness for prayer.

And the praying that counts,

is the praying that's sincere.

God does not want you for

a fair-weather friend.

The only real friend I ever had was Katie

Morris, and she was only my window friend.

Window friend?

I discovered her in the window

of Mrs. Thomas' bookcase.

It was the only window that hadn't

been smashed by her intoxicated husband.

I lived with them before the Hammonds.

I used to wish I knew the spell to step through the

glass into Katie's world, which was so beautiful.

I don't think you should

have window friends anymore.

My greatest wish, apart from staying at

Green Gables, would be to have a bosom friend.

A what kind of friend?

A bosom friend; a really kindred spirit.

I've dreamt of meeting her all my life.

Diana Barry lives over there on

Orchard Slope. She's about your age.

Her parents are sponsoring the

picnic next Sunday and you can meet her.

Diana of the Lake of Shining Waters.

For mercy's sake child. You set

your heart too much on silly names.

What should I call you?

May I call you Aunt Marilla?

No. You can call me just plain Marilla.

I don't believe in calling people

names that are not their own.

But you could imagine you were my aunt.

No, I could not.

Don't you ever imagine things

differently from what they are?

No.

Oh, Marilla, how much you miss.

How do you like them?

I can imagine, I like them.

What's the matter with them?

They... they're not... they're not very pretty.

I'm not going to pamper your vanity.

These are good and sensible dresses.

This one is for Sunday, and the

others you can wear to school.

I am greatful, but I'd be even more grateful

if you'd make this one with puffed sleeves.

I can not waste material on ridiculous

looking frills and furbelows.

Plain and sensible is best.

I always dreamed of going

to a picnic in puffed sleeves.

I'd rather look ridiculous with everyone

else than plain and sensible all by myself.

Trust you for that.

Have you seen my amethyst brooch?

Yes.

Did you touch it?

I pinned it on yesterday,

but just to see what it looked like.

You had no business to meddle with

my brooch. Where did you put it?

Back on the pin cushion.

Honestly, Marilla, I didn't mean to meddle,

and I promise I'll never do it again.

That's the one good thing about me;

I never do the same wrong thing twice.

The brooch is gone and you

were the last one to handle it.

Did you take it out and lose it?

I didn't.

Anne Shirley, you are

telling me a falsehood.

Go to your room.

And you will stay in your room until you

confess, even if it takes a month of Sundays.

If you let me out for the picnic, I'll

stay in my room as long as you like.

I just have to go to the picnic.

You are not going to the picnic or

anywhere else until you tell me the truth.

If I don't go to the picnic, how will I ever

make a bosom friend, or any friend at all?

That brooch meant a great deal to me;

more than any picnic. Now you go to your room.

I've looked in every crack and cranny.

You might as well face it, Matthew;

She's taken that brooch and lied about it.

I feel worse about that

than the brooch.

Are you sure it didn't

fall behind the bureau?

I moved the bureau. I even

checked the cracks in the floor.

I know how you feel, Matthew.

And in my heart I was prepared

to let you have your way, but...

now I realize that I was

right not to be too hasty.

We can't keep a liar and a

thief, Matthew, and you know it.

Marilla, I'm ready to confess.

What have you to say for yourself?

I took the brooch because I was too

overcome with irresistable temptation.

I was imagining I was

Lady Cordelia Fitzgerald,

and I just had to wear the brooch over the

footbridge of the Lake of Shining Waters,

with the wind blowing my

auburn hair over to Camelot.

I thought I could put it

back before you came home,

but as I leaned over to look

at my reflection in the lake,

it slipped from my fingers and

sank beneath the rippling waves.

That's the best I can do at confessing.

Now may I go to the picnic?

No.

I realize the importance

of the brooch, Marilla.

Was it a keepsake from a tragic romance?

You did say I could go if I confessed.

What you can do, is pack your bags and

start imagining your life with Mrs. Blewett.

Rachel Lynde was right. I can't imagine how I

let that child worm her way into my affections.

I'm furious at myself for

having let this happen.

Marilla!

What ever made you say that

you took it and lost it?

You said you'd keep me in

my room until I confessed.

So I just thought up a good confession

and made it as interesting as I could.

But it was still a lie.

You wouldn't believe the truth.

You do beat all, child.

But, I'll forgive you

if you'll forgive me.

Now... You get dressed for service.

Hello, Miss Cuthbert.

Good afternoon, Mr. Barry.

I'd like you to meet Anne Shirley.

Hello.

- How do you do, Mr. Barry?

You should meet my daughter, Diana.

She's over there in the garden. Matthew...

For pity's sake, calm down, Anne.

And don't make any of your fabulous speeches.

Goodness knows what Rachel

has told them already about you.

Oh, you'd be excited too, if you were gonna

eat icecream for the first time in your life.

Ah, Marilla. Anne.

Rachel. Reverend Allan. Mrs. Allan.

Oh, this is the orphan girl that

the Cuthberts are looking after.

Anne Shirley, this is the

Reverend and Mrs. Allan.

How are you, Anne?

Well in body, although considerably

ruffled in spirit, thank you.

There wasn't anything shocking

in that, was there, Marilla?

We must try our best

to relieve your jitters.

Won't you and Anne join

us for tea, Miss Cuthbert?

I've been counting on you coming to Green

Gables, now that you've moved into the manse.

I've given Elsbeth tremendous reports about your

home baking, and your red current wine, Miss Cuthbert.

She's anxious to learn your secrets.

Marilla, I'm so pleased you could come.

This must be Anne we've heard so much about.

This is my Diana. Perhaps Anne would

like some icecream and lemonade, Diana.

I think she's enchanting.

Will you keep her then, Marilla?

Well, if she can avoid

catastophe two days in a row,

I might have a chance

to make up my mind.

Marilla has given me strict

instructions not to talk a head off.

I do have a habit of chattering on so.

Why, if I could imagine

myself as a bird,

a magpie would probably be the

closest thing I could resemble.

Oh, Diana, I've always dreamed of being

in a three-legged race at a picnic.

Would you do me the

honor of being my partner?

But there aren't any other girls in it.

You're a sturdy looking girl, and I'm fast.

I know we'd stand a good chance.

I guess so.

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