But if you'll take my advice--which I suppose you won't
do, although I've brought up ten children and buried
two--you'll do that `talking to' you mention with a fair-
sized birch switch. I should think THAT would be the most
effective language for that kind of a child. Her temper
matches her hair I guess. Well, good evening, Marilla.
I hope you'll come down to see me often as usual. But you
can't expect me to visit here again in a hurry, if I'm
liable to be flown at and insulted in such a fashion.
It's something new in MY experience."

Whereat Mrs. Rachel swept out and away--if a fat woman who
always waddled COULD be said to sweep away--and Marilla with
a very solemn face betook herself to the east gable.

On the way upstairs she pondered uneasily as to what
she ought to do. She felt no little dismay over the
scene that had just been enacted. How unfortunate that
Anne should have displayed such temper before Mrs. Rachel
Lynde, of all people! Then Marilla suddenly became aware
of an uncomfortable and rebuking consciousness that she
felt more humiliation over this than sorrow over the
discovery of such a serious defect in Anne's disposition.
And how was she to punish her? The amiable suggestion of
the birch switch--to the efficiency of which all of Mrs.
Rachel's own children could have borne smarting testimony--
did not appeal to Marilla. She did not believe she could
whip a child. No, some other method of punishment must
be found to bring Anne to a proper realization of the
enormity of her offense.