just slipped through my fingers--so--and went down--down--down, all
purply-sparkling, and sank forevermore beneath the Lake of Shining
Waters. And that s the best I can do at confessing, Marilla.
Marilla felt hot anger surge up into her heart again. This child had
taken and lost her treasured amethyst brooch and now sat there calmly
reciting the details thereof without the least apparent compunction or
repentance.
Anne, this is terrible, she said, trying to speak calmly. You are the
very wickedest girl I ever heard of.
Yes, I suppose I am, agreed Anne tranquilly. And I know I ll have to
be punished. It ll be your duty to punish me, Marilla. Won t you please
get it over right off because I d like to go to the picnic with nothing
on my mind.
Picnic, indeed! You ll go to no picnic today, Anne Shirley. That shall
be your punishment. And it isn t half severe enough either for what
you ve done!
Not go to the picnic! Anne sprang to her feet and clutched Marilla s
hand. But you _promised_ me I might! Oh, Marilla, I must go to the
picnic. That was why I confessed. Punish me any way you like but that.
Oh, Marilla, please, please, let me go to the picnic. Think of the ice
cream! For anything you know I may never have a chance to taste ice
cream again.
Marilla disengaged Anne s clinging hands stonily.
You needn t plead, Anne. You are not going to the picnic and that s
final. No, not a word.
Anne realized that Marilla was not to be moved. She clasped her hands
together, gave a piercing shriek, and then flung herself face
downward on the bed, crying and writhing in an utter abandonment of
disappointment and despair.
For the land s sake! gasped Marilla, hastening from the room. I
believe the child is crazy. No child in her senses would behave as she
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