Энн из Зеленых Крыш. Уровень 1 / Anne of Green Gables

"I think you're tired and hungry,” Matthew said.

"Oh, Mr. Cuthbert,” she whispered, "that place, that white place – what was it?”

"Well, the Avenue,” said Matthew. "It is a pretty place.”

"Pretty? Oh, no! It was wonderful, wonderful! I felt it here,” she put one hand on her breast, "it made a queer funny ache. And yet it was a pleasant ache. Did you ever have an ache like that, Mr. Cuthbert?”

"Well, I just can't recollect.”

"I have it often – whenever I see anything royally beautiful.

But you can't call that lovely place the Avenue. We will call it the White Way of Delight. Isn't that a nice imaginative name? When I don't like the name of a place or a person I always imagine a new one and always think of them so. There was a girl at the asylum whose name was Hepzibah Jenkins, but I always imagined her as Rosalia DeVere. Other people may call that place the Avenue, but I shall always call it the White Way of Delight! I'm glad to get home. You see, I never had a real home. ”

They drove over the crest of a hill. Below them was a pond. From the marsh they heard sweet chorus of the frogs.

"That's Barry's pond,” said Matthew.

"Oh, I don't like that name, either. I shall call it the Lake of Shining Waters. Yes, that is the right name for it. But why do other people call it Barry's pond?”

"I reckon because Mr. Barry lives up there in that house.”

"Has Mr. Barry any little girls? Well, not very little – about my size.”

"He's got one about eleven.

Her name is Diana.”

"Oh! What a perfectly lovely name!”

The girl looked about her. They were on the crest of a hill. The child relapsed into silence. Matthew stirred uneasily. Marilla and not he will tell this girl won't have that home. By the time they arrived at the house Matthew trembled. He thought of the child's disappointment.

The yard was quite dark as they turned into it.

"Listen to the trees! They talk in their sleep,” she whispered, as he lifted her to the ground.

"What nice dreams they have!”

Then she followed him into the house.

Chapter III

Marilla Cuthbert is Surprised

When Marilla's eyes fell on the odd little figure in the stiff, ugly dress, with the long braids of red hair and the eager, luminous eyes, she stopped.

"Matthew Cuthbert, who's that?” she ejaculated. "Where is the boy?”

"There wasn't any boy,” said Matthew wretchedly. "There was only her.”

He nodded at the child.