Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables Complete Series Book 1)

by L.M. Montgomery

Well, well, we can't get through this world without our share of trouble. I've had a pretty easy life of it so far, but my time has come at last and I suppose I'll just have to make the best of it."

"Well," said Marilla, unable to find any excuse for deferring her explanation longer, "I suppose I might as well tell you. Matthew and I have decided to keep you—that is, if you will try to be a good little girl and show yourself grateful. Why, child, whatever is the matter?" "I'm crying," said Anne in a tone

I'm afraid you both cry and laugh far too easily.

"I don't believe in imagining things different from what they really are," retorted Marilla. "When the Lord puts us in certain circumstances He doesn't mean for us to imagine them away.

I thought out a splendid prayer after I went to bed, just as I promised you I would. It was nearly as long as a minister's and so poetical. But would you believe it? I couldn't remember one word when I woke up this morning.

Somehow, things never are so good when they're thought out a second time.

"I like this," she announced at length. "It's beautiful.

'Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name.' That is just like a line of music. Oh, I'm so glad you thought of making me learn this, Miss—Marilla."

And she is good and smart, which is better than being pretty."

The night before I went to the asylum I said good-bye to Violetta, and oh, her good-bye came back to me in such sad, sad tones.

You seem to half believe your own imaginations. It will be well for you to have a real live friend to put such nonsense out of your head.

I told you to learn that prayer and not talk. But it seems impossible for you to stop talking if you've got anybody that will listen to you. So go up to your room and learn it."

"I kind of felt I shouldn't shorten their lovely lives by picking them—I wouldn't want to be picked if I were an apple blossom. But the temptation was IRRESISTIBLE. What do you do when you meet with an irresistible temptation?"

I never saw any mahogany, but it does sound SO luxurious.

But it's a million times nicer to be Anne of Green Gables than Anne of nowhere in particular, isn't it?"

where perpetual twilight reigned under the straight, thick-growing firs and spruces;

Her temper matches her hair I guess.

"Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it," wailed Anne. "You may know a thing is so, but you can't help hoping other people don't quite think it is. I suppose you think I have an awful temper, but I couldn't help it. When she said those things something just rose right up in me and choked me. I HAD to fly out at her."

I can't say I'm sorry when I'm not, can I? I can't even IMAGINE I'm sorry."

Good Mrs. Lynde, not being overburdened with perception, did not see this.

It can't be denied your hair is terrible red; but I knew a girl once—went to school with her, in fact—whose hair was every mite as red as yours when she was young, but when she grew up it darkened to a real handsome auburn.

Oh, I could endure anything if I only thought my hair would be a handsome auburn when I grew up. It would be so much easier to be good if one's hair was a handsome auburn, don't you think?

It gives you a lovely, comfortable feeling to apologize and be forgiven, doesn't it? Aren't the stars bright tonight? If you could live in a star, which one would you pick?

"It's lovely to be going home and know it's home," she said. "I love Green Gables already, and I never loved any place before. No place ever seemed like home.

So I'll not talk any more just now, Marilla." "Thanks be to goodness for that," breathed Marilla in devout relief.

I don't believe in pampering vanity, Anne, I'll tell you that right off.

"But I'd rather look ridiculous when everybody else does than plain and sensible all by myself,"

Whatever other people might have thought of the result it satisfied Anne,

Anne felt that life was really not worth living without puffed sleeves.

There are two lines in particular that just thrill me. "'Quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell In Midian's evil day.'

tragical.

It almost seemed to her that those secret, unuttered, critical thoughts had suddenly taken visible and accusing shape and form in the person of this outspoken morsel of neglected humanity.

It was putting flowers on your hat at all, no matter what color they were, that was ridiculous. You are the most aggravating child!"

It will be better for you than straining your eyes over that book. She reads entirely too much—"

She's always poring over a book. I'm glad she has the prospect of a playmate—perhaps it will take her more out-of-doors."

Diana is going to lend me a book to read. She says it's perfectly splendid and tremendously exciting.

Diana and I have our playhouse there. We call it Idlewild. Isn't that a poetical name?

And we have all our dishes on them. Of course, they're all broken but it's the easiest thing in the world to imagine that they are whole.

The heroine had five lovers. I'd be satisfied with one, wouldn't you?

She could faint as easy as anything. I'd love to be able to faint, wouldn't you, Marilla? It's so romantic.

"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla, with a sigh. "I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for you through life." "Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them," exclaimed Anne.

Long ago, before I had ever seen a diamond, I read about them and I tried to imagine what they would be like. I thought they would be lovely glimmering purple stones. When I saw a real diamond in a lady's ring one day I was so disappointed I cried.

It's a fearful responsibility to have a child in your house you can't trust.

It would have been such a romantic experience to have been nearly drowned. It would be such a thrilling tale to tell.

That child is hard to understand in some respects. But I believe she'll turn out all right yet. And there's one thing certain, no house will ever be dull that she's in."

"Oh, don't speak about freckles to me," implored Anne. "It isn't delicate when I've got so many.

He told his mother—his MOTHER, mind you—that you were the smartest girl in school. That's better than being good looking."

Gilbert Blythe wasn't used to putting himself out to make a girl look at him and meeting with failure. She SHOULD look at him, that red-haired Shirley girl with the little pointed chin and the big eyes

Mrs. Rachel shook her head, as much as to say if she were only at the head of the educational system of the Province things would be much better managed.

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.