[00:21.82]Anne of Green Gables
[00:35.78]1 A surprise for the Cuthberts
[00:40.77]Matthew Cuthbert lived with his sister Marilla on their farm
[00:45.34]On Prince Edward Island in Canada.
[00:49.30]Their farm-house,Green Gables,
[00:52.82]Was just outside the little village of Avonlea.
[00:57.29]Matthew was nearly sixty and had a long brown beard.
[01:02.91]His sister was five years younger.
[01:07.33]They were both tall and thin,with dark hair.
[01:11.40]Everybody in Avonlea knew that
[01:15.67]The Cuthberts were quiet people who worked very hard on their farm.
[01:21.37]One afternoon Matthew drove the horse and cart to the station.
[01:27.48]'Has the five-thirty train arrived yet?'he asked the station-master.
[01:35.01]'Yes,'the man replied.'And there's a passenger who's waiting for you.A little girl.'
[01:44.48]'A little girl?'asked Matthew.'But I've come for a boy!
[01:51.50]The children's home is sending us one of their orphan boys.
[01:56.14]We're going to adopt him,you see,and he's going to help me with the farm work.'
[02:03.24]'Well,perhaps the children's home didn't have any boys,
[02:08.44]So they sent you a girl,'answered the stationmaster carelessly.'Here she is.'
[02:16.91]Matthew turned shyly to speak to the child.
[02:21.42]She was about eleven,with long red hair in two plaits.
[02:28.28]Her face was small,white and thin,
[02:32.67]With a lot of freckles,and she had large grey-green eyes.
[02:38.11]She was wearing an old brown hat and a dress which was too small for her.
[02:45.82]'Are you Mr Cuthbert of Green Gables?'she asked excitedly in a high,sweet voice.
[02:57.05]'I'm very happy to come and live with you,and belong to you.
[03:03.99]I've never belonged to anyone,you see.
[03:08.04]The people at the children's home were very kind,
[03:13.49]But it's not very exciting to live in a place like that,is it?'
[03:18.84]Matthew felt sorry for the child.
[03:23.71]How could he tell her that it was all a mistake?
[03:28.14]But he couldn't just leave her at the station.
[03:32.11]He decided to take her home with him.
[03:35.79]Marilla could explain the mistake to her.
[03:40.87]He was surprised that he enjoyed the journey home.
[03:45.68]He was a quiet,shy man,and he didn't like talking himself.
[03:51.45]But today,he only had to listen,
[03:55.65]Because the little girl talked and talked and talked.
[04:01.69]She told him all about herself while they drove along.
[04:07.27]'My parents died when I was a baby,you know,
[04:13.65]And for the last three years I've had to work for my food.
[04:19.08]I've lived with three different families and looked after their children.
[04:25.20]So I've always been poor,and I haven't got any nice dresses!
[04:31.14]But I just imagine that I'm wearing the most beautiful blue dress,
[04:38.13]And a big hat with flowers on,and blue shoes,and then I'm happy!
[04:45.85]Do you imagine things sometimes?'
[04:49.21]'Well,I…I…not often,'said Matthew.
[04:57.68]They were now driving past some very old apple trees next to the road.
[05:04.73]The trees were full of sweet-smelling,snowy-white flowers.
[05:11.48]The little girl looked at them.
[05:14.01]'Aren't the trees beautiful?'she said happily.
[05:20.17]'But am I talking too much?Please tell me.I can stop if necessary,you know.'
[05:29.50]Matthew smiled at her.'You go on talking,'he answered.'I like listening to you.'
[05:39.68]When they arrived at Green Gables,Marilla came to the door to meet them.
[05:47.77]But when she saw the little girl,she cried in surprise,
[05:52.96]'Matthew,who's that?Where's the boy?'
[05:58.54]'The children's home has made a mistake,'
[06:04.09]He said unhappily,'and sent a girl,not a boy.'
[06:09.06]The child was listening carefully.
[06:12.95]Suddenly she put her head in her hands and began to cry.
[06:19.71]'You—you don't want me!'she sobbed.
[06:26.98]'Oh—oh!You don't want me because I'm not a boy!'
[06:34.06]'Now,now,don't cry,'said Marilla kindly.
[06:41.45]'Don't you understand?Oh!
[06:46.79]This is the worst thing that's happened to me in all my life!'
[06:52.39]'Well,you can stay here,just for tonight,'said Marilla.'Now,what's your name?'
[07:03.31]The child stopped crying.'Will you please call me Cordelia?'she asked.
[07:12.95]'Call you Cordelia?Is that your name?'
[07:18.57]'Well,no,it isn't,but it's a very beautiful name,isn't it?
[07:27.00]I like to imagine my name is Cordelia,
[07:31.59]Because my real name is Anne Shirley—and that's not a very interesting name,is it?'
[07:39.46]Marilla shook her head.'The child has too much imagination,'she thought.
[07:48.12]Later,when Anne was in bed,Marilla said to her brother,
[07:54.46]'She must go back to the children's home tomorrow.'
[07:59.48]'Marilla,don't you think…'began Matthew.'she's a nice little thing,you know.'
[08:09.50]'Matthew Cuthbert,are you telling me that you want to keep her?'
[08:15.94]Asked Marilla crossly.
[08:18.64]Matthew looked uncomfortable.'Well,she's clever,and interesting,and—'
[08:26.64]'But we don't need a girl!'
[08:30.61]'But perhaps she needs us,'Matthew replied,surprisingly quickly for him.
[08:38.66]'She's had a very unhappy life up to now,Marilla.She can help you in the house.
[08:46.43]I can get a boy from the village to help me on the farm.What do you think?'
[08:52.84]Marilla thought for a long time.'All right,'she said in the end,
[09:01.09]'I agree.The poor child can stay.I'll look after her.'
[09:07.54]Matthew smiled happily.'Be as good and kind to her as you can,Marilla.
[09:17.27]I think she needs a lot of love.'