a rather high hand. But it would never do to say so to her. I ll just
talk it over with Rachel. She s sent ten children to school and she
ought to know something about it. She ll have heard the whole story,
too, by this time.
Marilla found Mrs. Lynde knitting quilts as industriously and cheerfully
as usual.
I suppose you know what I ve come about, she said, a little
shamefacedly.
Mrs. Rachel nodded.
About Anne s fuss in school, I reckon, she said. Tillie Boulter was
in on her way home from school and told me about it.
I don t know what to do with her, said Marilla. She declares she
won t go back to school. I never saw a child so worked up. I ve been
expecting trouble ever since she started to school. I knew things were
going too smooth to last. She s so high strung. What would you advise,
Rachel?
Well, since you ve asked my advice, Marilla, said Mrs. Lynde
amiably--Mrs. Lynde dearly loved to be asked for advice-- I d just
humor her a little at first, that s what I d do. It s my belief that
Mr. Phillips was in the wrong. Of course, it doesn t do to say so to the
children, you know. And of course he did right to punish her yesterday
for giving way to temper. But today it was different. The others who
were late should have been punished as well as Anne, that s what. And I
don t believe in making the girls sit with the boys for punishment. It
isn t modest. Tillie Boulter was real indignant. She took Anne s part
right through and said all the scholars did too. Anne seems real popular
among them, somehow. I never thought she d take with them so well.
Then you really think I d better let her stay home, said Marilla in
amazement.
Yes. That is I wouldn t say school to her again until she said it
herself. Depend upon it, Marilla, she ll cool off in a week or so and
be ready enough to go back of her own accord, that s what, while, if
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