7 Mrs. Rachel Lynde Is Properly Horrified

CHAPTER 7 Mrs. Rachel Lynde Is Properly Horrified Anne had been at Green Gables for two weeks before Mrs. Lynde paid a visit. She wanted to meet Marilla's new girl. Anne was out in the orchard when Mrs. Lynde arrived. The first thing Mrs. Lynde said to Marilla was, "I've been hearing some

surprising things about you and Matthew. A girl, Marilla? And you decided to keep her?" "And I suppose you'd like to see her," Marilla said. "I'll call her in." Anne ran in, her face bright with excitement. Her hair and dress were messy from playing in the trees. "Well," said Mrs. Lynde as soon as she saw her. "They didn't pick you for your looks, did they?" Mrs. Lynde spoke her mind, as usual. "She's skinny, isn't she, Marilla? Come here, child, and let me have a closer look. My word, look at all those freckles and red hair!" With one bound Anne stood in front of Mrs. Lynde, her face red with anger. "How dare you call me skinny and ugly! You are a rude, mean woman and I hate you!" she cried. "Anne!" Marilla exclaimed. "How dare you say those things about

me?" Anne continued. "You've hurt my feelings like never before. I'll never, never forgive you!" "Anne! Go to your room this instant!" Marilla stamped her foot and pointed upstairs. Anne burst into tears and ran out.

"Well, Marilla," Mrs. Lynde said. "I don't envy you." "You shouldn't have picked on her about her looks," Marilla said. "Are you defending her?" Mrs. Lynde asked. "No." Marilla spoke carefully. "But I think you're not without fault." "I'm surprised you're taking her side." Mrs. Lynde stood up to leave. "Quite surprised." After Mrs. Lynde left, Marilla went to talk to Anne. How should she punish her? There was no question that Anne was rude. But was she ruder than her friend Rachel? She thought of a time when she was very young and an aunt said almost the same thing about her. Marilla recalled how much that had hurt her feelings. Marilla walked into Anne's room to find her sitting in her chair with her arms crossed.

"You can punish me however you'd like," Anne said. "You can throw me into a deep, dark dungeon but I will never say I'm sorry." "We're not in the habit of shutting people up in deep, dark dungeons," said Marilla, dryly. "We have so few of them in Avonlea. But I'm afraid you will have to apologize to Mrs. Lynde and that's all there is to it." "I'll stay in my room forever, then," said Anne defiantly. "Well, then, I'll see you in the morning," Marilla said. "Perhaps you'll feel differently. Please remember, Anne—you said you'd try to be a good girl while at Green Gables." Anne did not come down for breakfast the next morning. Marilla told the story to Matthew. He became very angry—but at Mrs. Lynde, not Anne. "That was a mean thing for Rachel to say," Matthew said, his face becoming red. "She

had no right to say it." "Matthew Cuthbert! Anne was rude, too," Marilla said. "She should learn to control her temper." Matthew sipped his morning tea. "I suppose you're right, Marilla. But don't be too hard on her." Marilla left the kitchen with Anne's breakfast on a tray. She also carried Anne's lunch and supper up to her room in the east gable. Anne was determined to stay in her room forever, it seemed. That night, when Marilla was bringing the cows in from the field, Matthew slipped up the back stairs. He took a deep breath and knocked softly on Anne's bedroom door. When Anne said, "Come in," he walked quietly into her room. "Anne," Matthew said. "How are you making out here?"