Marilla opened her lips to say she knew not what of apology or
deprecation. What she did say was a surprise to herself then and ever
afterwards.
You shouldn t have twitted her about her looks, Rachel.
Marilla Cuthbert, you don t mean to say that you are upholding her in
such a terrible display of temper as we ve just seen? demanded Mrs.
Rachel indignantly.
No, said Marilla slowly, I m not trying to excuse her. She s been
very naughty and I ll have to give her a talking to about it. But we
must make allowances for her. She s never been taught what is right. And
you _were_ too hard on her, Rachel.
Marilla could not help tacking on that last sentence, although she was
again surprised at herself for doing it. Mrs. Rachel got up with an air
of offended dignity.
Well, I see that I ll have to be very careful what I say after this,
Marilla, since the fine feelings of orphans, brought from goodness
knows where, have to be considered before anything else. Oh, no, I m not
vexed--don t worry yourself. I m too sorry for you to leave any room for
anger in my mind. You ll have your own troubles with that child. But
if you ll take my advice--which I suppose you won t do, although I ve
brought up ten children and buried two--you ll do that talking to you
mention with a fair-sized birch switch. I should think _that_ would be the
most effective language for that kind of a child. Her temper matches her
hair I guess. Well, good evening, Marilla. I hope you ll come down to
see me often as usual. But you can t expect me to visit here again in a
hurry, if I m liable to be flown at and insulted in such a fashion. It s
something new in _my_ experience.
Whereat Mrs. Rachel swept out and away--if a fat woman who always
waddled _could_ be said to sweep away--and Marilla with a very solemn face
betook herself to the east gable.
On the way upstairs she pondered uneasily as to what she ought to do.
She felt no little dismay over the scene that had just been enacted.
How unfortunate that Anne should have displayed such temper before Mrs.
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