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

I helped look after the children – there were four of them. Then Mr. Thomas fell under a train, and his mother offered to take Mrs. Thomas and the children, but she didn't want me. Then Mrs. Hammond took me. I lived with her in a little house among the stumps. It was a very lonesome place. Mrs. Hammond had eight children. She had twins three times. I lived with Mrs. Hammond for over two years, and then Mr. Hammond died. Mrs. Hammond divided her children among her relatives and went to the States.

"Did you ever go to school?” demanded Marilla.

"Not much. I went a little the last year I stayed with Mrs. Thomas. And of course I went while I was at the asylum. I can read pretty well and I know many pieces of poetry by heart[13 - by heart – наизусть].”

"Were those women – Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Hammond – good to you?” asked Marilla.

"Oh,” faltered Anne. "They wanted to be. But it's hard to have a drunken husband, you see and many children, don't you think?”

"Poor child!” thought Marilla. It was a pity to send her back.

Chapter VI

Marilla Makes Up Her Mind[14 - makes up her mind – принимает решение]

Mrs. Spencer lived in a big yellow house at White Sands Cove, and she came to the door with surprise.

"Dear, dear![15 - Dear, dear! – Боже мой!]” she exclaimed, "I'm glad to see you.

"I'm well, thank you,” said Anne smilelessly.

"I suppose we'll stay a little,” said Marilla, "but I promised Matthew to be home early. The fact is, Mrs. Spencer, there is a queer mistake somewhere. We asked you, Matthew and I, to bring us a boy from the asylum. We told your brother Robert to tell you we wanted a boy ten or eleven years old.”

"Marilla Cuthbert, you don't say so!” said Mrs.

"She certainly did, Miss Cuthbert,” Flora Jane nodded earnestly.

"I'm dreadful sorry,” said Mrs. Spencer. "It's too bad; but it certainly wasn't my fault, you see, Miss Cuthbert. I thought I followed your instructions. Nancy is terrible.”

"It was our own fault,” said Marilla resignedly.