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 27

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Besides, I meant to be extra good in other ways to make up for it.”

“Well,” said Marilla sarcastically, “if I’d decided it was worth while to dye my hair I’d have dyed it a decent colour at least. I wouldn’t have dyed it green.”

“But I didn’t mean to dye it green, Marilla,” protested Anne dejectedly. “If I was wicked I meant to be wicked to some purpose. He said it would turn my hair a beautiful (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)raven(end superscript) black—he positively assured me that it would. How could I doubt it his word, Marilla? I know what it feels like to have your word doubted. I have proof And Mrs. Allan says we should never suspect anyone of not telling us the truth unless we have proof that they’re not. I have


TEXT ANNOTATION

"beautiful (begin subscript)^(end subscript)(begin superscript)raven(end superscript) black": Anne has mentioned before that were she to wish for different hair, she would want hair "as black as a raven's wing." In Scott's Lady of the Lake, which Anne and Montgomery knew well, there are lines, "Such wild luxuriant ringlets hid, / Whose glossy black to shame might bring / The plumage of the raven's wing." These lines come from a stanza that will come up again in this chapter.