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

He had an uncomfortable feeling that the mysterious creatures secretly laughed at him. He was an odd-looking personage, with long gray hair that touched his shoulders, and a full, soft brown beard.

When he reached Bright River there was no sign of any train. He thought he was too early, so he tied his horse in the yard of the small Bright River hotel and went over to the station house. The long platform was almost deserted. At the extreme end of it, a girl was waiting for someone or something. Matthew sidled past her as quickly as possible.

Matthew saw the stationmaster, and asked him about the five-thirty train.

"The five-thirty train arrived half an hour ago,” answered that brisk official. "But there was a passenger – a little girl. She's sitting out there. I asked her to go into the ladies' waiting room, but she told me gravely that she preferred to stay outside.”

"I do not expect a girl,” said Matthew blankly. "A boy must be here. Mrs. Spencer brought him from Nova Scotia for me.

The stationmaster whistled.

"There's some mistake,” he said. "Mrs. Spencer came off the train with that girl and gave her into my charge[5 - gave her into my charge – оставила её на моё попечение]. She said you and your sister wanted to adopt her from an orphan asylum. That's all I know about it. I haven't got any more orphans hereabouts.”

"I don't understand,” said Matthew helplessly.

"Well, question the girl,” said the station-master carelessly.

He hurried away – he was hungry. The unfortunate Matthew looked at the girl. He wanted to demand of her why she wasn't a boy. He groaned and went towards her.

She watched him. Matthew did not look at her, but anyone could see this: a child of about eleven, garbed in a very short, very tight, very ugly dress of yellowish-gray cloth. She wore a faded brown sailor hat and beneath the hat were two braids of very thick red hair.

Her chin was very pointed; the big eyes were full of spirit. Her mouth was expressive and her forehead was broad and full.

As soon as she concluded that Matthew came to her she stood up. She grasped with one thin brown hand the handle of a shabby, old-fashioned bag; the other she held out to him.

"I suppose you are Mr.