《绿山墙的安妮》 第3期_卡斯伯特兄妹俩大吃一惊(3)

 ' she asked.
　　'Call you Cordelia  Is that your name'
　　'Well, no, it isn't, but it's a very beautiful name, isn't it
 I like to imagine my name is Cordelia, because my real name is Anne Shirley—and that's not a very interesting name, is it'
　　Marilla shook her head. 'The child has too much imagina-tion, 'she thought.
　　Later, when Anne was in bed, Marilla said to her brother, 'She must go back to the children's home tomorrow. '
　　'Marilla, don't you think…'began Matthew. 'she's a nice little thing, you know. '
　　'Matthew Cuthbert, are you telling me that you want to keep her'asked Marilla crossly.
　　Matthew looked uncomfortable. 'Well, she's clever, and interesting, and—'
　　'But we don't need a girl! '
　　'But perhaps she needs us, 'Matthew replied, surprisingly quickly for him. 'She's had a very unhappy life up to now, Marilla. She can help you in the house. I can get a boy from the village to help me on the farm. What do you think '
　　Marilla thought for a long time. 'All right, 'she said in the end, 'I agree. The poor child can stay. I'll look after her. '
　　Matthew smiled happily. 'Be as good and kind to her as you can, Marilla. I think she needs a lot of love. '

她问道。
　　“叫你科黛拉？那是你的名字吗？”
　　“不，不是的，但那名字很好听，不是吗？我喜欢幻想着我的名字叫科黛拉，因为我的真名叫安妮•雪利——那名字没什么意趣，不是吗？”
　　玛丽拉摇摇头，“这孩子太爱幻想了，”她心里暗想。
　　稍晚些，等安妮睡着以后，玛丽拉对哥哥说：“明天这孩子必须回孤儿院去。”
　　“玛丽拉，你不认为……”马修说道。“这小家伙挺可爱的。”
　　“马修•卡斯伯特，你难道是想让她留下？”玛丽拉生气地说。
　　马修一副不知所措的样子。“可是，这小姑娘聪明、有趣，而且……”
　　“但我们不需要女孩！”
　　“但也许她需要我们，”马修的回答来得出奇的快。“玛丽拉，这孩子到现在为止生活一直很不幸。她可以帮助你干些家务活。我可以从镇上找一个男孩子帮我干农活。你觉得怎么样？”
　　玛丽拉想了很久。“好吧，”她终于说，“我同意。这可怜的孩子可以留下。我会照顾她的。”
　　马修高兴地笑了。“尽可能对她好些，玛丽拉。我想这孩子太需要人疼爱了。”