Question

read the following passage from anne of green gables. in this excerpt, anne is waiting to find out whether she would be sent back. marilla and matthew to keep her at green gables.
“oh, please, miss cuthbert, won’t you tell me if you are going to send me away or not? i’ve tried to be patient all this morning, but i really feel that i cannot bear not knowing my future. it’s a dreadful feeling. please tell me.”
“you haven’t scalded this dishcloth in clean hot water as i told you to do,” said marilla immediately. “go and do it before you ask any more questions, anne.”
anne went and attended to the dishcloth. then she returned to marilla with beseeching, imploring eyes on the latter’s face. “well,” said marilla, thinking 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 can’t think why. i’m glad as glad can be. oh, glad doesn’t seem the right word at all. i was glad about the white way and the cherry blossoms—but this! oh, it’s something more than glad. i’m so happy. i’ll try to be so good. it will be uphill work, i expect, for mrs. thomas often told me i was desperately wicked. however, i’ll do my very best. but can you tell me why i’m crying?”
“i suppose it’s because you’re all excited and worked up,” said marilla disapprovingly. “sit down on that chair and try to calm yourself. i’m afraid you both cry and laugh far too easily. yes, you can stay here and we will try to do right by you.”
“what am i to call you?” asked anne. “shall i always say miss cuthbert? can i call you aunt marilla?”
“no; you’ll call me just plain marilla. i’m not used to being called miss cuthbert and it would make me nervous.”
“i’d love to call you aunt marilla,” said anne wistfully. “i’ve never had an aunt or any relation at all—not even a grandmother. it would make me feel as if i really belonged to you. can’t i call you aunt marilla?”
“no. i’m not your aunt and i don’t believe in calling people names that don’t belong to them.”
“but we could imagine you were my aunt.”
“i couldn’t,” said marilla grimly.
adapted from l. m. montgomery, anne of green gables
what does this passage reveal about marilla’s feelings toward anne at this point in the novel?
marilla appreciates anne’s talkative nature and imagination.
marilla loves anne more like a daughter than a niece.
marilla does not feel real affection for anne yet.

Explanation:

Marilla acts stiffly: she avoids Anne's question initially by assigning a chore, refuses Anne's request to be called "Aunt Marilla" firmly, and speaks to her in a gruff, formal manner. Her actions show she has not yet developed warm, affectionate feelings, even though she agrees to keep Anne.

Answer:

Marilla does not feel real affection for Anne yet.