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3 At Avonlea school |
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When school started in September, |
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Anne and Diana walked there and back together every day. |
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'What a beautiful day,'Anne said happily one morning, |
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as the two little girls walked across the fields. |
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'I'm very lucky to have you as my best friend,Diana. |
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You are my best friend,aren't you?' |
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'Of course,Anne,'replied Diana,taking Anne's hand. |
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'And just think,today you'll meet Gilbert Blythe. |
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He's three years older than us,and very good-looking. |
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He's just come back from holiday,and starts school today.' |
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'Oh,boys!'said Anne.'I'm not interested in them.' |
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But she did look at Gilbert when they arrived at school. |
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He was a tall boy,with curly brown hair and a friendly smile. |
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'He is good-looking,'Anne whispered to Diana, |
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'but why does he smile at me?He doesn't know me!' |
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Avonlea school was quiet that day.The teacher,Mr Phillips, |
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was helping some of the older children at the back of the schoolroom. |
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Anne was looking out of the window at the reds and yellows of the trees, |
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and the silvery blue of the river. |
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She was far away in the world of her imagination. |
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But Gilbert wanted her to look at him. |
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He whispered to her,but she did not move. |
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He was surprised.Girls were usually very ready to look at him. |
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Suddenly he put his arm out,pulled her red plaits, |
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and said in a loud whisper,'Carrots!Carrots!' |
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Anne jumped up and looked angrily at Gilbert. |
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'You horrible boy!'she cried.'I hate you!' |
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And then she brought her heavy book down on Cilbert's head. |
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Mr Phillips heard the noise,and came slowly to the front of the schoolroom. |
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'Anne Shirley,why did you do that?'he asked. |
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She stayed silent.Gilbert said,'I'm sorry,Mr Phillips. |
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I was rude to her.That's why she hit me.'But the teacher did not listen to Gilbert. |
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'I cannot have bad children in my school,'said Mr Phillips firmly, |
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'Anne,go and stand in front of the class.' |
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And there Anne stood for the rest of the day, |
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a lonely little girl with a small white angry face. |
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'I hate Mr Phillips!'she thought. |
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'And I'll never look at or speak to Gilbert Blythe again!' |
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The next day some of the school children |
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were playing in a farmer's field in their lunch hour, |
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so they were a little late for afternoon school. |
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Anne ran into the classroom at the same time as the boys,just after the teacher. |
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'You're late,Anne,'said Mr Phillips.'You won't sit with Diana today. |
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I see that you enjoy being with the boys very much, |
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so go and sit next to Gilbert this afternoon.' |
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Anne's face went white.'He can't mean it!'she thought. |
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'Did you hear me,Anne?'asked Mr Phillips. |
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'Yes sir,'said Anne and moved slowly to Gilbert's desk. |
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There she sat down and put her head on the desk,with her arms over it. |
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'This is the end,'she was thinking. |
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'I wasn't the only person who was late. |
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And he's sent me to sit with a boy!And that boy is Gilbert Blythe!' |
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The rest of the day went very slowly for Anne. |
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When it was time to leave,she went to her desk,next to Diana's, |
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and took all her books,pens and pencils with her. |
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'What are you doing,Anne?'asked Diana. |
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'I'm not coming back to school,'replied Anne firmly. |
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'Oh!But Anne…we're reading a new book next week… |
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and we're playing a new game on Monday,and…It'll be very exciting! |
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And you'll miss it,Anne!' |
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But Anne was not interested.'I'm sorry,Diana,'was her only answer. |
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That evening Marilla ran round to Rachel Lynde's house. |
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'Rachel,please help me!Anne says she won't go back to school. |
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What am I going to say to her?' |
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Mrs Lynde already knew about Anne's troubles at school, |
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and she was always very pleased when people asked her to help. |
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She smiled and sat back comfortably. |
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'I've had ten children myself,so I know all about them,'she said. |
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'Anne can stay at home for a while. |
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She'll want to go back to school again soon,I'm sure.' |
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So Anne stayed at home,and only saw Diana in the evenings. |
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She was a child who felt very strongly. |
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She hated Gilbert Blythe,but she really loved Diana. |
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One evening Marilla found Anne crying in the kitchen. |
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'What's the matter,child?'she asked in surprise. |
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'I love Diana very much,'sobbed Anne. |
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'I can't live without her,Marilla! |
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But what will happen when she marries?I hate her husband already! |
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I can imagine her in the church in her long white dress…and then she'll go away! |
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And I'll never see her again!' |
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Marilla turned away to hide her smiling face. |
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What a strange,funny child Anne was! |
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Marilla tried not to laugh,but she couldn't stop herself. |
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'You and your imagination,Anne Shirley!'she cried,and she laughed and laughed. |
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Mrs Lynde was right,of course. |
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After a few days Anne decided to go back to school. |
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All the children were pleased to see her again,but she did not speak to Gilbert Blythe. |