Chapter 2. Anne Finds a Friend
In the afternoon, Marilla spoke to Anne. ‘You can stay at Green Gables,' said Marilla. Anne was very happy.
‘Can I call you ‘aunt'?' asked Anne.
‘No, because I'm not really your aunt,' said Marilla.
‘But can you imagine that you're my aunt?'
‘No, I can't,' said Marilla. ‘I don't like imagining things.'
‘Oh Marilla, it's so sad not to have an imagination.'
Then Marilla told Anne some more good news. ‘There's a young girl, Diana. She lives near Green Gables. One day, you can meet her. Maybe you can be friends.'
A real friend, thought Anne. Anne wanted a friend very much. She went to her bedroom and looked in the mirror and said, ‘You're only Anne of Green Gables, but it's good to be Anne of Green Gables!'
For the next two weeks, Anne helped Marilla in the house. She went for a walk every day. She looked at every tree in the area. She visited every pond and every lake. Matthew loved listening to Anne. Marilla also enjoyed listening to Anne. But she didn't tell Anne this.
One morning, Rachel Lynde arrived. She wanted to see Anne. When Rachel arrived, she asked Marilla, ‘Why didn't Anne go back to the orphanage?'
‘We quite like her,' said Marilla. ‘Of course, she has to learn many things. Everything is new for her. We need to teach her these things.'
At that moment, Anne ran into the house.
‘Well,' said Rachel. ‘You look very skinny and plain … and with your red hair … well, you look like a carrot.'
‘I HATE YOU!' cried Anne. You're a very rude woman!'
Anne went to her bedroom. Marilla was angry with Anne. It was rude to speak to an adult in that way. Marilla was also angry with Rachel. ‘You were very unkind to Anne,' said Marilla to Rachel.
‘Don't forget, Anne doesn't know what's right, and what's wrong. She needs to learn.'
Rachel was also angry and she went home. Now Marilla had to make a decision. She had to punish Anne.
Soon, she decided what to do. She went to Anne's bedroom and said, ‘Anne, you must apologise to Rachel.'
‘I can never apologise to that rude woman,' said Anne.
‘Then you must stay in your room,' said Marilla.
The next day, breakfast, lunch and dinner passed. Anne wasn't there. It was very quiet at the table. Anne ate in her room. She didn't eat very much.
That evening, Marilla went out. Matthew went to Anne's room. Anne smiled when she saw Matthew. But she was very sad.
‘Anne,' said Matthew. ‘It's better to say sorry to Rachel. You must say sorry one day. Why not say sorry now?'
‘Alright, only for you, to make you happy,' said Anne.
The next day, Anne and Marilla went to Rachel's house to apologise. When they arrived, Anne said to Rachel, ‘I'm so sorry, Mrs. Rachel. I also want to say sorry to Marilla and Matthew. They're so kind to me. Thanks to them, I can stay at Green Gables. Please forgive me!'
Rachel was happy that Anne said she was sorry. ‘Maybe I was wrong to speak to you in that way, and maybe, in the future, the colour of your hair will be better.'
On the way home, Anne chatted to Marilla. Marilla had a strange feeling. Maybe it was love, for this little girl.
One day, Anne went to Sunday School. Marilla made a dress for her. Anne didn't like it. It was dark and plain. On the way to Sunday School, she saw some flowers. She put them on her hat. At the school, there were some girls. They had beautiful pink and blue dresses. The girls looked at Anne. She was strange, with her plain dress and flowers in her hat.
When Anne came home, she spoke to Marilla about Sunday School.
‘I didn't like Sunday School very much,' said Anne to Marilla. ‘I don't think it's very interesting. I answered all the teacher's questions. But I often looked out of the window. I could see the Lake of Shining Waters.'
‘You must think more about your lessons,' said Marilla.
On Friday, Anne and Marilla went to Diana's house. Anne was excited but also worried. I hope that Diana likes me, she thought.
They arrived at Diana's house. Diana was beautiful. She had dark hair and black eyes. She had a happy expression.
‘This is Anne,' said Marilla. ‘Diana, take Anne to the garden to look at the flowers.' Anne and Diana went into the garden.
‘Oh, Diana,' said Anne, ‘do you think we can be best friends forever?'
‘I think so,' said Diana. ‘It'll be nice to have a friend to play with.'
Anne and Diana promised to be best friends.
They made a special promise. They looked at each other and said, ‘I'll be your special friend forever.'
Diana thought that Anne was very strange. But she was very happy to have this new friend. Anne was different from other girls. ‘You're a strange girl, Anne, but I like you,' she said.
Anne was very happy. Finally, she had a real friend, not an imaginary friend, but a real friend.
Later, Matthew came home. He gave Anne a box of sweets. Anne was so happy. I can give some of the sweets to Diana, she thought.
On Sunday, Anne had some exciting news for Marilla.
‘Oh, Marilla,' she said, ‘there's a Sunday School picnic next week with real ice cream. Just imagine, real ice cream! Can I go? Please can I go?'
Marilla agreed. ‘You can go to the picnic,' she said.
‘But,' said Anne, ‘everybody must take a picnic basket of things to eat. How can I go without one?'
‘Don't worry, I can make some food for you,' said Marilla.
So, for the rest of the week, Anne was very excited. She talked about the picnic. She thought about the picnic. And she dreamed about the picnic.
