فصل 6

Chapter 6

Matthew and Marilla

But when she arrived back at Green Gables, Anne knew at once that something was wrong. Matthew looked much older than before.

‘What’s the matter with him?’ Anne asked Marilla.

‘He’s had some heart trouble this year,’ replied Marilla. ‘He really isn’t well. I’m worried about him.’

‘And you’re not looking well, Marilla,’ said Anne. ‘Now you must rest, while I do the housework.’

Marilla smiled tiredly at Anne. ‘It’s not the work, it’s my head. It often hurts, behind my eyes. I must see the doctor about it soon. But another thing, Anne, have you heard anything about the Church Bank?’

‘I heard it was having a difficult time.’

‘All our money is in that bank. I know Matthew’s worried about it.’

The next morning a letter came for Matthew. Marilla saw his grey face and cried, ‘What’s the matter, Matthew?’

Anne, who was bringing an armful of flowers into the kitchen, saw his face too. Suddenly, Matthew fell to the ground. Anne dropped her flowers and ran to help Marilla. Together they tried everything, but it was too late. Matthew was dead.

‘It was his heart,’ said the doctor, who arrived a little later. ‘Did he have any bad news suddenly?’

‘The letter!’ cried Anne. ‘Shall I see what’s in it? Oh Marilla, look! The Church Bank has had to close down! Your money, and Matthew’s, has all gone!’

Everybody in Avonlea was sorry to hear that Matthew was dead. For the first time in his life, Matthew Cuthbert was an important person.

At first Anne couldn’t cry. But then she remembered Matthew’s smiling face when she told him about the Avery prize. Suddenly she started crying and couldn’t stop. Marilla held her in her arms and they sobbed together.

‘Crying can’t bring him back,’ whispered Marilla. ‘We’ll have to learn to live without him, Anne.’

In the next few weeks Anne and Marilla worked hard together on the farm and in the house. Everybody in Avonlea was very kind to them, but it was a sad time.

One day Marilla said, ‘I’ll miss you when you go to Redmond College, Anne. What are the other Avonlea students going to do?’

‘Some of them are going to teach, and some are going to stay at Queen’s.’

‘Gilbert’s going_to teach at Avonlea school, isn’t he?’ Anne didn’t reply, so Marilla went on. ‘He’s very tall and good-looking now, don’t you think? Like his father, John, when he was younger. You know, John and I were very good friends, years ago.’

Anne looked up, interested. ‘What happened? Why didn’t you . . .?’

‘Well, we had a fight about something. He asked me to be friends again, but I couldn’t forgive him. Later I was sorry, but he didn’t speak to me again. Perhaps we . . . Oh well, it was a long time ago.’

The next day Marilla went to see the doctor. When she came back, she looked very tired and ill.

‘What did the doctor say?’ asked Anne worriedly.

‘He says I mustn’t read or write, and I must wear glasses. Then my head won’t hurt. But if I’m not very careful, I’ll be blind in six months!’

For a minute Anne was silent. Then she said firmly, ‘Then you must be careful, Marilla.’

‘Think how terrible it is to be blind! But how lucky you’ve got a free place at Redmond College! I can’t give you any money, you see. All our money’s gone, and I can’t work now. I think I’ll have to sell the farm, and go and live with Rachel Lynde!’ and poor Marilla sobbed wildly.

That night Anne sat alone in her bedroom. She thought and thought for some time, and then she smiled. When she went to bed, she knew what she was going to do.

The next day she explained it all to Marilla.

‘You can’t sell Green Gables, it’s our home! Just listen, I’ve planned everything. I’m not going to Redmond College, it’s too far away. I’m going to teach, in one of the village schools near here. Then I can live there during the week and come home at weekends to look after you. Diana’s father will use our fields and pay us for them, and so we’ll have some money. You see?’

‘Oh Anne! I’ll be all right if you’re here. But you must go to Redmond, if you want to study . . .’

‘Redmond College doesn’t matter,’ laughed Anne. ‘I’m going to study at home in the evenings. And I’m going to be a really good teacher! That’s better than anything!’

Marilla shook her head and tried not to cry. ‘You’re a good girl, Anne. Now we can keep Green Gables!’

A few days later Rachel Lynde came to the farm.

‘Do you know,’ she said, ‘that Gilbert isn’t going to be the Avonlea teacher now?’

‘Isn’t he?’ cried Anne. ‘Why not?’

‘When he heard that you wanted to be near Marilla, he decided to teach at a school in another village. So you can be the Avonlea teacher now.’

‘Oh! ‘ said Anne, surprised. ‘That’s . . . that’s very kind of him.’

And that day, when she saw Gilbert by the river, she stopped him and held out her hand.

‘Gilbert,’ she said shyly, ‘I . . . I want to thank you. It’s very good of you. If I’m the Avonlea teacher, I can help Marilla much more at home.’

‘I’m happy to help you, Anne,’ said Gilbert. He smiled and held her hand firmly. ‘Are we going to be friends now? Have you forgiven me for calling you “carrots”?’

Anne laughed. ‘I forgave you a long time ago.’

‘I’m sure we’re going to be very good friends, Anne. Can I walk home with you?’

And when Anne came into the Green Gables kitchen, Marilla said, ‘You look very happy, Anne. Was that Gilbert who was with you just now?’

‘Yes,’ replied Anne, her face red. ‘Gilbert and I’ve decided to be friends. Oh Marilla, I think life is going to be good for all of us! We’ll have to work hard, but we’ll be happy. And we’ll keep our dear old Green Gables! What could be better than that!’