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XI. Facts and Fancies
Ididn’ts’poseyou’dknowthedifference.Idon’tseehowyoufoundoutitwasn’tallmine.Youmustbeawfulclever,teacher.’
“ItoldAnnettaitwasverywrongtocopyanotherperson’sletterandpassitoffasherown.ButI’mafraidthatallAnnettarepentedofwasbeingfoundout.
“‘AndIdoloveyou,teacher,’shesobbed.‘Itwasalltrue,eveniftheministerwroteitfirst.Idoloveyouwithallmyheart.’
“It’sverydifficulttoscoldanybodyproperlyundersuchcircumstances.
“HereisBarbaraShaw’sletter.Ican’treproducetheblotsoftheoriginal.
“‘Dearteacher,
“‘Yousaidwemightwriteaboutavisit.Inevervisitedbutonce.ItwasatmyAuntMary’slastwinter.MyAuntMaryisaveryparticularwomanandagreathousekeeper.ThefirstnightIwastherewewereattea.Iknockedoverajugandbrokeit.AuntMarysaidshehadhadthatjugeversinceshewasmarriedandnobodyhadeverbrokenitbefore.WhenwegotupIsteppedonherdressandallthegatherstoreoutoftheskirt.ThenextmorningwhenIgotupIhitthepitcheragainstthebasinandcrackedthembothandIupsetacupofteaonthetableclothatbreakfast.WhenIwashelpingAuntMarywiththedinnerdishesIdroppedachinaplateanditsmashed.ThateveningIfelldownstairsandsprainedmyankleandhadtostayinbedforaweek.IheardAuntMarytellUncleJosephitwasamercyorI’dhavebrokeneverythinginthehouse.WhenIgotbetteritwastimetogohome.Idon’tlikevisitingverymuch.Ilikegoingtoschoolbetter,especiallysinceIcametoAvonlea.
