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VI . An Apology and a Bosom Friend That evening Marilla and Anne walked down the lane to Mrs Rachel’s house . Marilla had expected Anne to look ashamed and unhappy , but to her surprise , the child walked along with a shining face and her eyes on the sky . She was clearly imagining the scene in advance . When they came into the kitchen , Anne fell on her knees in front of Mrs Rachel and held out her hands . “ Oh , Mrs Lynde , I am so extremely sorry , ” she said in a shaking voice . “ I could never tell you all my sorrow , no , not if I used up a whole dictionary . I behaved terribly to you , and I’ve brought shame on my dear friends , Matthew and Marilla , who have let me stay at Green Gables although I’m not a boy . I’m a dreadfully wicked and ungrateful girl , and I deserve to be punished forever . It was very wicked of me to fly into a temper because you told me the truth . It was the truth . Every word you said was true . My hair is red and I’m freckled and skinny and ugly . Oh , Mrs Lynde , please , please forgive me . If you refuse , it will be a lifelong sorrow to me . ” Marilla could see that the little sinner in the valley of humiliation was really enjoying every moment of it . Mrs Rachel , however , was not a very clever woman , and she saw nothing but a complete and honest apology . All her anger disappeared , and her kind old heart warmed to the child . “ There , there , get up , child , ” she said . “ Of course I forgive you . I guess I was a little too hard on you , anyway . I’m such an outspoken person . Your hair is terrible red , but I knew a girl once who went to school with me , and her hair was every bit as red as yours when she was young . But when she grew up , it darkened to a real handsome auburn . I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if yours did too . ” “ Oh , Mrs Lynde ! ” Anne drew a long breath as she rose to her feet . “ You have given me a hope . I shall always feel that you are my benefactor . I could bear anything if I only thought my hair would be a handsome auburn when I grew up . ” On the way home through the dark , Anne said , “ I apologised pretty well , didn’t I ? I thought that since I had to do it , I might as well do it thoroughly . ” “ You did it thoroughly , all right , ” said Marilla . She was trying not to laugh , and she was also trying to remember that she ought to scold Anne for apologising so well . Then something warm and soft slipped into Marilla’s hard old hand . It was Anne’s hand . A sweet feeling of motherhood , which she had missed all her life , rose up in Marilla’s heart . It was so new and so sweet that it frightened her , and she quickly began to give Anne a lesson about good behaviour . That summer Marilla made Anne three new dresses . They were plain and practical , with plain , tight sleeves . Anne thanked her politely , but she had hoped for puffed sleeves , which were the fashion that year . Soon after , Marilla went to Orchard Slope to borrow a skirt pattern from Mrs Barry , and she took Anne with her . Anne was trembling all the way .
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