XI. Facts and Fancies

           “Teachingisreallyveryinterestingwork,”wroteAnnetoaQueen’sAcademychum.“JanesaysshethinksitismonotonousbutIdon’tfinditso.Somethingfunnyisalmostsuretohappeneveryday,andthechildrensaysuchamusingthings.Janesaysshepunishesherpupilswhentheymakefunnyspeeches,whichisprobablywhyshefindsteachingmonotonous.ThisafternoonlittleJimmyAndrewswastryingtospell‘speckled’andcouldn’tmanageit.‘Well,’hesaidfinally,‘Ican’tspellitbutIknowwhatitmeans.’

           “‘What?’Iasked.

           “‘St.ClairDonnell’sface,miss.’

           “St.Clairiscertainlyverymuchfreckled,althoughItrytopreventtheothersfromcommentingonit...forIwasfreckledonceandwelldoIrememberit.ButIdon’tthinkSt.Clairminds.ItwasbecauseJimmycalledhim‘St.Clair’thatSt.Clairpoundedhimonthewayhomefromschool.Iheardofthepounding,butnotofficially,soIdon’tthinkI’lltakeanynoticeofit.

           “YesterdayIwastryingtoteachLottieWrighttodoaddition.Isaid,‘Ifyouhadthreecandiesinonehandandtwointheother,howmanywouldyouhavealtogether?’‘Amouthful,’saidLottie.Andinthenaturestudyclass,whenIaskedthemtogivemeagoodreasonwhytoadsshouldn’tbekilled,BenjieSloanegravelyanswered,‘Becauseitwouldrainthenextday.’

           “It’ssohardnottolaugh,Stella.IhavetosaveupallmyamusementuntilIgethome,andMarillasaysitmakeshernervoustohearwildshrieksofmirthproceedingfromtheeastgablewithoutanyapparentcause.