IV. Different Opinions

           Oneeveningatsunset,JaneAndrews,GilbertBlythe,andAnneShirleywerelingeringbyafenceintheshadowofgentlyswayingspruceboughs,whereawoodcutknownastheBirchPathjoinedthemainroad.JanehadbeenuptospendtheafternoonwithAnne,whowalkedpartofthewayhomewithher;atthefencetheymetGilbert,andallthreewerenowtalkingaboutthefatefulmorrow;forthatmorrowwasthefirstofSeptemberandtheschoolswouldopen.JanewouldgotoNewbridgeandGilberttoWhiteSands.

           “Youbothhavetheadvantageofme,”sighedAnne.“You’regoingtoteachchildrenwhodon’tknowyou,butIhavetoteachmyownoldschoolmates,andMrs.Lyndesaysshe’safraidtheywon’trespectmeastheywouldastrangerunlessI’mverycrossfromthefirst.ButIdon’tbelieveateachershouldbecross.Oh,itseemstomesucharesponsibility!”

           “Iguesswe’llgetonallright,”saidJanecomfortably.Janewasnottroubledbyanyaspirationstobeaninfluenceforgood.Shemeanttoearnhersalaryfairly,pleasethetrustees,andgethernameontheSchoolInspector’srollofhonor.FurtherambitionsJanehadnone.“Themainthingwillbetokeeporderandateacherhastobealittlecrosstodothat.Ifmypupilswon’tdoasItellthemIshallpunishthem.”

           “How?”

           “Givethemagoodwhipping,ofcourse.”

           “Oh,Jane,youwouldn’t,”criedAnne,shocked.“Jane,youCOULDN’T!”

           “Indeed,Icouldandwould,iftheydeservedit,”saidJanedecidedly.

           “IcouldNEVERwhipachild,”saidAnnewithequaldecision.“Idon’tbelieveinitATALL.