Anne Shirley (アン・シャーリー)

Tell me, what sort of people

am I to live with from now on?

You'll live with the Cuthberts, dear.

They're a brother and sister who need some help with chores.

Their homestead is Green Gables,

and it's just over a hill, surrounded by trees.

It's a quaint, quiet place

that'll do just fine by you, I'm sure.

-Wow! Oh, how I adore trees! -

-Hm. -Hm.

Lift your chin, girl.

Be a pleasant child who is helpful and polite,

and they're sure to keep you.

You'll never have to see the orphan asylum again!

Right!

Green Gables is on the Prince Edward Island!

I've heard it's the most splendidly beautiful

place in the world!

What are you doing?

Hurry along now!

Oh, sorry!

I can't believe this is happening!

I'm off to live on an island brimming with blooms!

CHAPTER 1 IT'S SUCH AN INTERESTING WORLD

-Huh. -Hm.

Huh. Perhaps you could help us, sir?

Hm? Of course, ma'am.

May this young lady wait quietly

in the station house for a bit?

Mr. Cuthbert should be coming to get her soon.

Yes, that's quite all right.

Be a good girl, now.

Goodbye, Mrs. Spencer!

I can't tell you how grateful I am!

- -

You can sit in the waiting room, my dear.

May I sit there?

Hm.

Good to see you.

Oh, Matthew.

No train?

It's come and gone now.

But more to the point,

that girl was dropped off for you.

I did offer her the chance to sit in the waiting room,

but she said, "There's more scope for imagination outside."

She's a real case, I should say.

Excuse me, are you Mr. Cuthbert?

-Yes. -

I'm very glad to see you!

I was beginning to be afraid

that you weren't going to come for me,

and I was imagining all the things

that could have happened to prevent you!

-Hm. - I had made up my mind.

If you didn't come for me, I'd just spend the night

in that great big cherry tree next to the track.

I wouldn't be a bit afraid either.

'Cause I know in my heart it would be lovely to sleep

in a wild cherry tree, all lit up,

with white blooms shining brightly in the soft moonlight.

I was quite sure you'd come eventually.

So, I thought that I'd just have to make do

if you found yourself delayed tonight.

- - I'm sorry

I was late in coming to fetch you.

The horse is over there.

Right, give me your bag.

There's no need. I can carry it.

-Hm. -All my worldly goods

are in it, but it isn't heavy!

Oh, I'm so happy!

Thanks so much for having me!

- -

- -Hm.

Good day, Rachel.

I saw Matthew riding out earlier

so I thought "Is he going to the doctor's?"

- -No.

He's gone to the station.

We're getting a young boy from an orphanage.

Are you in earnest?

What put such a notion in your head?

We've been thinking about it for some time.

As you know, Matthew's getting up in years

and finding good hired help's hard.

Well! I must say,

I think you're doing a mighty foolish thing!

You're letting a stranger into your house and home!

I'm confident he'll be fine with proper discipline.

I just read of a case of an orphan girl

putting strychnine in the well and poisoning a whole family.

Well, no fear of that!

After all, we're not getting a girl.

We made it clear that we want a boy.

Mr. Cuthbert, may I?

Huh.

What does that tree at the bend,

so white and lacy, make you think of?

I couldn't say.

Why, a bride!

A lovely bride all in white

with a misty veil floating behind her.

Hm.

These red roads.

They're so funny!

What makes them red?

Well, now, that... I dunno.

Well, then, I suppose that is one of the things

to find out sometime.

Isn't it just splendid to think of all the things

there are to find out about?

You know, I have to say,

it makes me feel glad to be alive.

It's such an incredibly interesting world

we get to live in.

Hm.

But it wouldn't be half as interesting

if we were born knowing all about everything.

There'd be no scope for imagination.

Oh, dear, am I talking too much?

I can be quiet if I really concentrate.

It's fine.

I don't mind.

Oh, you strike me as a good listener!

You are, aren't you?

We'll get along just fine!

What a huge relief.

Some people laugh at me because I use big words.

But big ideas necessitate big words! Right?

It's perfectly natural!

Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Cuthbert?

Reasonable.

Mrs. Spencer said your place is called Green Gables.

She said you have a hill and trees.

Oh, is there a brook anywhere nearby?

Hm?

Yes, there's one right below the house.

Fancy! It's always been one of my biggest dreams

to live near a babbling brook.

Right now, I feel pretty nearly perfectly happy.

But I can never seem to feel truly perfectly happy.

You see, what color is this?

It's bright red, ain't it?

Yes, now you see my point.

I can imagine my freckles, and my skinniness away,

but not this red hair.

It's been my lifelong sorrow.

And so, I imagine my hair

as black as the raven's wing!

I try my best to convince myself of this.

But the weight of this red-wave is my demise.

- -Hm.

Mr. Cuthbert?

Oh, Mr...Mr. Cuthbert, look!

Huh.

Ha!

We haven't much farther.

Guess you're getting to feeling mighty hungry.

So, um, I have to ask,

what was that white place we just came through?

Well, now, you must mean the Avenue.

It is kind of a pretty place, at that.

Oh, "pretty" doesn't remotely come close

to capturing it, nor beautiful, either.

It's the first thing I ever saw

that imagination couldn't improve.

It's far too lovely a spot for so plain a name.

It should be "the White Way of Delight."

Hm.

Isn't that a nice, poetic name?

Hm.

Other people may go on calling that place the Avenue,

but not me.

I shall forever call it the White Way of Delight.

What's that?

That's Barry's pond.

I don't like that either.

I shall call it the Lake of Shining Waters.

Oh, the bridge! Listen to that!

What a jolly sound.

I love the way the wheels rumble.

Isn't it splendid that there are so many things

to like in this world?