pentant, and
bitterly mortified. Her quick anger was gone and she would have given
much to have been able to seek relief in tears. So all her boasts had
come to this . . . she had actually whipped one of her pupils. How Jane
would triumph! And how Mr. Harrison would chuckle! But worse than
this, bitterest thought of all, she had lost her last chance of winning
Anthony Pye. Never would he like her now.

Anne, by what somebody has called "a Herculaneum effort," kept back her
tears until she got home that night. Then she shut herself in the east
gable room and wept all her shame and remorse and disappointment into
her pillows . . . wept so long that Marilla grew alarmed, invaded the
room, and insisted on knowing what the trouble was.

"The trouble is, I've got things the matter with my conscience," sobbed
Anne. "Oh, this has been such a Jonah day, Marilla. I'm so ashamed of
myself. I lost my temper and whipped Anthony Pye."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Marilla with decision. "It's what you should
have done long ago."

"Oh, no, no, Marilla. And I don't see how I can ever look those children
in the face again. I feel that I have humiliated myself to the very
dust. You don't know how cross and hateful and horrid I was. I can't
forget the expression in Paul Irving's eyes . . . he looked so surprised
and disappointed. Oh, Marilla, I HAVE tried so hard to be patient and to
win Anthony's liking . . . and now it has all gone for nothing."

Marilla passed her hard work-worn hand over the girl's glossy, tumbled
hair with a wonderful tenderness. When Anne's sobs grew quieter she
said, very gently for her,

"You take things too much to heart, Anne. We all make mistakes . . . but
people forget them. And Jonah days come to everybody. As for Anthony
Pye, why need you care if he does dislike you? He is the only one."

"I can't help it. I want everybody to love me and it hurts me so when
anybody doesn't. And Anthony never will now. Oh, I just made an idiot of
myself today, Marilla. I'll tell you the whole story."

Marilla listened to the whole story, and if she smiled at certain parts
of it Anne never knew. When the tale was ended she said briskly,

"Well, never mind. This day's done and there's a new one coming
tomorrow, with no mistakes in it yet, as you used to say yourself. Just
come downstairs and have your supper. You'll see if a good cup of tea
and those plum puffs I made today won't hearten you up."

"Plum puffs won't mi