I ll carry them up to her myself. But she ll stay up there until she s
willing to apologize to Mrs. Lynde, and that s final, Matthew.
Breakfast, dinner, and supper were very silent meals--for Anne still
remained obdurate. After each meal Marilla carried a well-filled tray
to the east gable and brought it down later on not noticeably depleted.
Matthew eyed its last descent with a troubled eye. Had Anne eaten
anything at all?
When Marilla went out that evening to bring the cows from the back
pasture, Matthew, who had been hanging about the barns and watching,
slipped into the house with the air of a burglar and crept upstairs. As
a general thing Matthew gravitated between the kitchen and the little
bedroom off the hall where he slept; once in a while he ventured
uncomfortably into the parlor or sitting room when the minister came to
tea. But he had never been upstairs in his own house since the spring he
helped Marilla paper the spare bedroom, and that was four years ago.
He tiptoed along the hall and stood for several minutes outside the
door of the east gable before he summoned courage to tap on it with his
fingers and then open the door to peep in.
Anne was sitting on the yellow chair by the window gazing mournfully out
into the garden. Very small and unhappy she looked, and Matthew s heart
smote him. He softly closed the door and tiptoed over to her.
Anne, he whispered, as if afraid of being overheard, how are you
making it, Anne?
Anne smiled wanly.
Pretty well. I imagine a good deal, and that helps to pass the time. Of
course, it s rather lonesome. But then, I may as well get used to that.
Anne smiled again, bravely facing the long years of solitary
imprisonment before her.
Matthew recollected that he must say what he had come to say without
loss of time, lest Marilla return prematurely. Well now, Anne, don t
you think you d better do it and have it over with? he whispered.
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