"I think you're doing a very stupid thing, Marilla," said Mrs.
Lynde. "You're bringing a strange boy into your house. You don't
know anything about him.
"I read a story in the newspaper about an orphan. This child
lived with a Canadian family. Th e child lit a fire one night and
the family died in the fire. But it was a girl, not a boy."
"But we're not getting a girl," said Marilla. "We don't want a
girl. We're getting a boy."
*
Bright River Station was about twelve kilometers from Avonlea.
Matthew drove there slowly in the buggy. Whe n he arrived at
Bright River, it was late. He couldn't see a train.
There was only one person at the station, a little girl about
eleven years old. She was very thin with large gray eyes and long
red hair. She wore a short, ugly dress and carried an old bag.
Whe n she saw Matthew, she smiled. The n she put out her
hand. "Are you Mr. Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables?" she
asked. "I'm from the orphanage. Mrs. Spencer brought me here."
Matthew took the child's hand. "There's a mistake," he
thought. "This is a girl, not a boy!"
"Whe n you weren't here at the station," said the child, "I
thought,'I can sleep in that big tree tonight. I know he'll come in
the morning.' I know it's a long way to your house. Mrs. Spencer
told me. But I love driving. And I'm going to have a home with
you. That's wonderful. I never had a home."
"I was late," said Matthew slowly. "I'm sorry." He took the
little girl's bag and they walked to the buggy. "I can't leave this
child at the station," he thought. "I'll take her back to Green
Gables. Marilla can tell her about the mistake."
T h e girl got into the buggy and Matthew drove home. Th e
child talked and talked. Matthew listened. He was a quiet man