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

"Why didn't we come to you ourselves? Anyhow, can we send the child back to the asylum? I suppose they'll take her back, won't they?”

"I suppose so,” said Mrs. Spencer thoughtfully, "but I don't think it will be necessary to send her back. Mrs. Blewett was here yesterday. She wants a little girl to help her. Mrs. Peter has a large family, you know.”

Mrs. Blewett was a small, shrewish-faced woman without an ounce of superfluous flesh on her bones. She was terrible. Servant girls told fearsome tales of her temper and stinginess, and her family of pert, quarrelsome children.

"And there is Mrs. Blewett this blessed minute!” exclaimed Mrs. Spencer. "That is real lucky! Take the armchair, Miss Cuthbert. Anne, you sit here on the ottoman and don't wiggle. Let me take your hats. Flora Jane, go out and put the kettle on. Good afternoon, Mrs. Blewett. Let me introduce you two ladies. Mrs. Blewett, Miss Cuthbert.”

Anne sat mutely on the ottoman. She stared at Mrs. Blewett. Will she go with this sharp-faced, sharp-eyed woman? Anne was on the brink of tears[16 - Anne was on the brink of tears.

"There is a mistake about this little girl, Mrs. Blewett,” said Mrs. Spencer. "I was under the impression that Mr. and Miss Cuthbert wanted to adopt a little girl. But it seems it was a boy they wanted. So do you want to take the little girl, as you told me yesterday?”

Mrs. Blewett looked at Anne.

"How old are you and what's your name?” she demanded.

"Anne Shirley,” faltered the child, "and I'm eleven years old.”

"Humph! You don't look eleven. But you're wiry. The wiry girls are the best workers after all. Well, if I take you, you must be a good girl, you know – good and smart and respectful. No mistake about that. Miss Cuthbert, if you like I can take her right now.”

Marilla looked at Anne and softened at sight of the child's pale face with its look of mute misery – the misery of a helpless little creature who finds itself once more in the trap.

"Well, I don't know,” Marilla said slowly. "I haven't yet talked to Matthew. I just came over to learn about the mistake. I think I'll take her home again and talk it over with him. If we decide not to keep her, we'll bring or send her over to you tomorrow night. If we don't, you may know that she will stay with us. Will that suit you, Mrs.