Middle School
Read the excerpt from Chapter 4.Anne of Green Gablesby Lucy Maud MontgomeryMatthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla had decided to adopt a boy to help on their farm called Green Gables. When a girl, Anne, arrives, they are surprised. In this excerpt, Anne has just awoken after her first night at Green Gables.Anne could evidently be smart to some purpose for she was down-stairs in ten minutes time, with her clothes neatly on, her hair brushed and braided, her face washed, and a comfortable consciousness pervading her soul that she had fulfilled all Marillas requirements. As a matter of fact, however, she had forgotten to turn back the bedclothes.Im pretty hungry this morning, she announced as she slipped into the chair Marilla placed for her. The world doesnt seem such a howling wilderness as it did last night. Im so glad its a sunshiny morning. But I like rainy mornings real well, too. All sorts of mornings are interesting, dont you think? You dont know whats going to happen through the day, and theres so much scope for imagination. But Im glad its not rainy today because its easier to be cheerful and bear up under affliction on a sunshiny day. I feel that I have a good deal to bear up under. Its all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but its not so nice when you really come to have them, is it?For pitys sake hold your tongue, said Marilla. You talk entirely too much for a little girl.Thereupon Anne held her tongue so obediently and thoroughly that her continued silence made Marilla rather nervous, as if in the presence of something not exactly natural. Matthew also held his tongue,but this was natural,so that the meal was a very silent one.As it progressed Anne became more and more abstracted, eating mechanically, with her big eyes fixed unswervingly and unseeingly on the sky outside the window. This made Marilla more nervous than ever; she had an uncomfortable feeling that while this odd childs body might be there at the table her spirit was far away in some remote airy cloudland, borne aloft on the wings of imagination. Who would want such a child about the place?Yet Matthew wished to keep her, of all unaccountable things! Marilla felt that he wanted it just as much this morning as he had the night before, and that he would go on wanting it. That was Matthews waytake a whim into his head and cling to it with the most amazing silent persistencya persistency ten times more potent and effectual in its very silence than if he had talked it out.When the meal was ended Anne came out of her reverie and offered to wash the dishes.Can you wash dishes right? asked Marilla distrustfully.Pretty well. Im better at looking after children, though. Ive had so much experience at that. Its such a pity you havent any here for me to look after.I dont feel as if I wanted any more children to look after than Ive got at present. Youre problem enough in all conscience. Whats to be done with you I dont know. Matthew is a most ridiculous man.I think hes lovely, said Anne reproachfully. He is so very sympathetic. He didnt mind how much I talkedhe seemed to like it. I felt that he was a kindred spirit as soon as ever I saw him.Youre both queer enough, if thats what you mean by kindred spirits, said Marilla with a sniff. Yes, you may wash the dishes. Take plenty of hot water, and be sure you dry them well. Ive got enough to attend to this morning for Ill have to drive over to White Sands in the afternoon and see Mrs. Spencer. Youll come with me and well settle whats to be done with you. After youve finished the dishes go up-stairs and make your bed.Anne washed the dishes deftly enough, as Marilla who kept a sharp eye on the process, discerned. Later on she made her bed less successfully, for she had never learned the art of wrestling with a feather tick. But it was done somehow and smoothed down; and then Marilla, to get rid of her, told her she might go out-of-doors and amuse herself until dinner time.In Anne of Green Gables, how does Anne respond to the events on her first morning at Green Gables?She gets ready for breakfast quickly.She announces that she is not hungry.She feels sad to be in an unfamiliar place.She talks to Matthew but not Marilla.
