Chapter X. Anne’s Apology

           MarillasaidnothingtoMatthewabouttheaffairthatevening;butwhenAnneprovedstillrefractorythenextmorninganexplanationhadtobemadetoaccountforherabsencefromthebreakfasttable.MarillatoldMatthewthewholestory,takingpainstoimpresshimwithaduesenseoftheenormityofAnne’sbehavior.

           “It’sagoodthingRachelLyndegotacallingdown;she’sameddlesomeoldgossip,”wasMatthew’sconsolatoryrejoinder.

           “MatthewCuthbert,I’mastonishedatyou.YouknowthatAnne’sbehaviorwasdreadful,andyetyoutakeherpart!Isupposeyou’llbesayingnextthingthatsheoughtn’ttobepunishedatall!”

           “Wellnow—no—notexactly,”saidMatthewuneasily.“Ireckonsheoughttobepunishedalittle.Butdon’tbetoohardonher,Marilla.Recollectshehasn’teverhadanyonetoteachherright.You’re—you’regoingtogivehersomethingtoeat,aren’tyou?”

           “Whendidyoueverhearofmestarvingpeopleintogoodbehavior?”demandedMarillaindignantly.“She’llhavehermealsregular,andI’llcarrythemuptohermyself.Butshe’llstayupthereuntilshe’swillingtoapologizetoMrs.Lynde,andthat’sfinal,Matthew.”

           Breakfast,dinner,andsupperwereverysilentmeals—forAnnestillremainedobdurate.AftereachmealMarillacarriedawell-filledtraytotheeastgableandbroughtitdownlateronnotnoticeablydepleted.Mattheweyeditslastdescentwithatroubledeye.