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 . '' CHAPTER VIII . Anne 's Bringing-up Is Begun For reasons best known to herself , Marilla did not tell Anne that she was to stay at Green Gables until the next afternoon . During the forenoon she kept the child busy with various tasks and watched over her with a keen eye while she did them . By noon she had concluded that Anne was smart and obedient , willing to work and quick to learn ; her most serious shortcoming seemed to be a tendency to fall into daydreams in the middle of a task and forget all about it until such time as she was sharply recalled to earth by a reprimand or a catastrophe . When Anne had finished washing the dinner dishes she suddenly confronted Marilla with the air and expression of one desperately determined to learn the worst . Her thin little body trembled from head to foot ; her face flushed and her eyes dilated until they were almost black ; she clasped her hands tightly and said in an imploring voice : `` Oh , please , Miss Cuthbert , wo n't you tell me if you are going to send me away or not ? I 've tried to be patient all the morning , but I really feel that I can not bear not knowing any longer . It 's a dreadful feeling . Please tell me . '' `` You have n't scalded the dishcloth in clean hot water as I told you to do , '' said Marilla immovably . `` Just go and do it before you ask any more questions , Anne . '' Anne went and attended to the dishcloth . Then she returned to Marilla and fastened imploring eyes of the latter 's face . `` 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 of bewilderment . `` I ca n't think why . I 'm glad as glad can be .
Oh , GLAD does n't seem the right word XXXXX all .
By as at before for if in over to while