Warning: If you have a visual impairment, use the manuscript transcript version including the Lucy Maud Montgomery’s foot notes and contextual annotation references.

Chapter 14

221

“Matthew Cuthbert, I’m amazed at you. I think I’ve let her off entirely too easy. And she doesn’t appear to realize how wicked she’s been at all—that’s what worries we most. If she’d really felt sorry it wouldn’t be so bad. And you don’t seem it [sic] to realize it neither; you’re making excuses all the time for her to yourself—I can see that.”

“Well now, she’s such a little thing,” feebly reiterated Matthew. “And there should be allowances made, Marilla. You know she’s never had any bringing up.”

“Well, she’s having it now,” retorted Marilla.

The retort silenced Matthew, That dinner if it did not convince him.



TEXT ANNOTATION

"such a little thing": Matthew's view of Anne as a "little thing" persists even when she is a tall teen-ager and winner of awards. It is part of the bond between the two of them—their love is instantaneous and is unchanging.