               ,,*APT] ;,X            #AJH
             ,ANNE'S ,APOLOGY

  ,M>ILLA SD NO?+ 6,MAT!W AB ! A6AIR T
EV5+2 B :5 ,ANNE PROV$ / REFRACTORY ! NEXT
MORN+ AN EXPLAN,N _H 6BE MADE 6A3.T = H]
ABS;E F ! BR1KFA/ TA#4 ,M>ILLA TOLD ,MAT!W
! :OLE /ORY1 TAK+ PA9S 6IMPRESS HM )A DUE
S5SE (! ENORM;Y ( ,ANNE'S 2HAVIOR4
  8,X'S A GD ?+ ,RA*EL ,LYNDE GOT A CALL+
D[N2 %E'S A M$DLE"S OLD GOSSIP10 0
,MAT!W'S 3SOLATORY REJO9D]4
  8,MAT!W ,CU?B]T1 ,I'M A/ONI%$ AT Y4 ,Y
"K T ,ANNE'S 2HAVIOR 0 DR1D;L1 & YET Y
TAKE H] "P6 ,I SUPPOSE Y'LL 2 SAY+ NEXT ?+
T %E "\N'T 6BE PUNI%$ AT ALL60
  8,WELL N[--NO--N EXACTLY10 SD ,MAT!W
UNEASILY4 ,I RECKON %E "\ 6BE PUNI%$ A LL4
,B DON'T 2 TOO H>D ON H]1 ,M>ILLA4
,RECOLLECT %E HASN'T "E _H ANY"O 6T1* H]
"R4 ,Y'RE--Y'RE GO+ 6GIVE H] "S?+ 6EAT1
>5'T Y80
  8,:5 DID Y "E HE> ( ME />V+ P 96GD
2HAVIOR80 DEM&$ ,M>ILLA 9DIGNANTLY4
8,%E'LL H H] M1LS REGUL>1 & ,I'LL C>RY !MUP 6H] MYF4 ,B %E'LL /AY UP "!        #AJI
UNTIL %E'S WILL+ 6APOLOGIZE 6,MRS4 ,LYNDE1
& T'S F9AL1 ,MAT!W40
  ,BR1KFA/1 D9N]1 & SUPP] 7 V SIL5T M1LS--
= ,ANNE / REMA9$ OBDURATE4 ,AF EA* M1L
,M>ILLA C>RI$ A WELL-FILL$ TRAY 6! EA/ GA#
& BR"\ X D[N LAT] ON N NOTICEABLY DEPLET$4
,MAT!W EY$ XS LA/ DESC5T )A TR\#D EYE4 ,_H
,ANNE EAT5 ANY?+ AT ALL8
  ,:5 ,M>ILLA W5T \ T EV5+ 6BR+ ! C[S F !
BACK PA/URE1 ,MAT!W1 :O _H BE5 HANG+ AB !
B>NS & WAT*+1 SLIPP$ 96! H\SE )! AIR (A
BURGL> & CREPT UP/AIRS4 ,Z A G5]AL ?+
,MAT!W GRAVITAT$ 2T ! KIT*5 &! LL B$ROOM
(F ! HALL ": HE SLEPT2 ONCE 9 A :ILE HE
V5TUR$ UNCOM=TABLY 96! P>LOR OR SITT+ ROOM
:5 ! M9I/] CAME 6TEA4 ,B HE _H N"E BE5
UP/AIRS 9 8 [N H\SE S9CE ! SPR+ HE HELP$
,M>ILLA PAP] ! SP>E B$ROOM1 & T 0 F\R YE>S
AGO4
  ,HE TIPTO$ AL;G ! HALL & /OOD = S"EAL
M9UTES \TSIDE ! DOOR (! EA/ GA# 2F HE
SUMMON$ C\RAGE 6TAP ON X ) 8 F+]S & !N OP5
! DOOR 6PEEP IN4
  ,ANNE 0 SITT+ ON ! YELL[ *AIR 0! W9D[GAZ+ M\RN;LLY \ 96! G>D54 ,V SMALL    #AAJ
& UNHAPPY %E LOOK$1 & ,MAT!W'S HE>T SMOTE
HM4 ,HE S(TLY CLOS$ ! DOOR & TIPTO$ OV]
6H]4
  8,ANNE10 HE :ISP]$1 Z IF AFRAID ( 2+
OV]HE>D1 8H[ >E Y MAK+ X1 ,ANNE80
  ,ANNE SMIL$ WANLY4
  8,PRETTY WELL4 ,I IMAG9E A GD D1L1 & T
HELPS 6PASS ! "T4 ,( C\RSE1 X'S R L"O"S4
,B !N1 ,I MAY Z WELL GET US$ 6T40
  ,ANNE SMIL$ AG1 BRAVELY FAC+ ! L;G YE>S
( SOLIT>Y IMPRISON;T 2F H]4
  ,MAT!W RECOLLECT$ T HE M/ SAY :AT HE _H
-E 6SAY )\T LOSS ( "T1 LE/ ,M>ILLA RETURN
PREMATURELY4 8,WELL N[1 ,ANNE1 DON'T Y ?9K
Y'D BETT] D X & H X OV] )80 HE :ISP]$4
8,X'LL H 6BE D"O SOON] OR LAT]1 Y "K1 =
,M>ILLA'S A DR1D;L DET]M9$ WOMAN--DR1D;L
DET]M9$1 ,ANNE4 ,D X "R (F1 ,I SAY1 & H X
OV]40
  8,D Y M1N APOLOGIZE 6,MRS4 ,LYNDE80
  8,YES--APOLOGIZE--T'S ! V ^W10 SD ,MAT!W
EAG]LY4 8,J SMOO? X OV] S 6SP1K4 ,T'S :AT
,I 0 TRY+ 6GET AT40
  8,I SUPPOSE ,I CD D X 6OBLIGE Y10 SD,ANNE ?"\;LLY4 8,X WD 2 TRUE 5 6SAY   #AAA
,I AM SORRY1 2C ,I ,,AM SORRY N[4 ,I
WASN'T A BIT SORRY LA/ NI<T4 ,I 0 MAD CLE>
"?1 & ,I /AY$ MAD ALL NI<T4 ,I "K ,I DID
2C ,I WOKE UP ?REE "TS & ,I 0 J FURI\S E
"T4 ,B ? MORN+ X 0 OV]4 ,I WASN'T 9 A
TEMP] ANYMORE--& X LEFT A DR1D;L SORT (
G"O;S1 TOO4 ,I FELT S A%AM$ ( MYF4 ,B ,I J
CDN'T ?9K ( GO+ & TELL+ ,MRS4 ,LYNDE S4 ,X
WD 2 S HUMILIAT+4 ,I MADE UP MY M9D ,I'D
/AY %UT UP "H ="E R ?AN D T4 ,B /--,I'D D
ANY?+ = Y--IF Y RE,Y WANT ME TO--0
  8,WELL N[1 ( C\RSE ,I D4 ,X'S T]RI#
L"O"S D[N/AIRS )\T Y4 ,J G & SMOO? ?+S OV]
--T'S A GD GIRL40
  8,V WELL10 SD ,ANNE RESIGN$LY4 8,I'LL
TELL ,M>ILLA Z SOON Z %E -ES 9 ,I'VE
REP5T$40
  8,T'S "R--T'S "R1 ,ANNE4 ,B DON'T TELL
,M>ILLA ,I SD ANY?+ AB X4 ,%E MI<T ?9K ,I
0 PUTT+ MY O> 9 & ,I PROMIS$ N 6D T40
  8,WILD HORSES WON'T DRAG ! SECRET F ME10
PROMIS$ ,ANNE SOLEMNLY4 8,H[ WD WILD
HORSES DRAG A SECRET F A P]SON ANYH[80
  ,B ,MAT!W 0 G"O1 SC>$ AT 8 [N SU3ESS4,HE FL$ HA/ILY 6! REMOTE/ CORN] (!    #AAB
HORSE PA/URE LE/ ,M>ILLA %D SUSPECT :AT HE
_H BE5 UP TO4 ,M>ILLA H]F1 ^U H] RETURN 6!
H\SE1 0 AGREEABLY SURPRIS$ 6HE> A PLA9TIVE
VOICE CALL+1 8,M>ILLA0 OV] ! BANI/]S4
  8,WELL80 %E SD1 GO+ 96! HALL4
  8,I'M SORRY ,I LO/ MY TEMP] & SD RUDE
?+S1 & ,I'M WILL+ 6G & TELL ,MRS4 ,LYNDE
S40
  8,V WELL40 ,M>ILLA'S CRISP;S GAVE NO
SIGN ( H] RELIEF4 ,%E _H BE5 WOND]+ :AT "U
! CANOPY %E %D D IF ,ANNE DID N GIVE IN4
8,I'LL TAKE Y D[N AF MILK+40
  ,ACLY1 AF MILK+1 2HOLD ,M>ILLA & ,ANNE
WALK+ D[N ! LANE1 ! =M] ERECT &
TRIUMPHANT1 ! LATT] DROOP+ & DEJECT$4 ,B
HALFWAY D[N ,ANNE'S DEJEC;N VANI%$ Z IF
05*ANT;T4 ,%E LIFT$ H] H1D & /EPP$ LI<TLY
AL;G1 H] EYES FIX$ ON ! SUNSET SKY & AN
AIR ( SUBDU$ EXHIL>,N AB H]4 ,M>ILLA 2HELD
! *ANGE 4APPROV+LY4 ,? 0 NO MEEK P5IT5T S*
Z X 2HOOV$ H] 6TAKE 96! PRES;E (! (F5D$
,MRS4 ,LYNDE4
  8,:AT >E Y ?9K+ (1 ,ANNE80 %E ASK$
%>PLY4  8,I'M IMAG9+ \ :AT ,I M/ SAY        #AAC
6,MRS4 ,LYNDE10 ANSW]$ ,ANNE DR1MILY4
  ,? 0 SATISFACTORY--OR %D H BE5 S4 ,B
,M>ILLA CD N RID H]F (! NO;N T "S?+ 9 H]
S*EME ( PUNI%;T 0 GO+ ASKEW4 ,ANNE _H NO
BUSI;S 6LOOK S RAPT & RADIANT4
  ,RAPT & RADIANT ,ANNE 3T9U$ UNTIL !Y 7 9
! V PRES;E ( ,MRS4 ,LYNDE1 :O 0 SITT+
KNITT+ 0H] KIT*5 W9D[4 ,!N ! RADI.E
VANI%$4 ,M\RN;L P5IT;E APPE>$ ON E F1TURE4
,2F A ^W 0 SPOK5 ,ANNE SU45LY W5T D[N ON
H] KNEES 2F ! A/ONI%$ ,MRS4 ,RA*EL & HELD
\ H] H&S 2SEE*+LY4
  8,OH1 ,MRS4 ,LYNDE1 ,I AM S EXTREMELY
SORRY10 %E SD )A QUIV] 9 H] VOICE4 8,I CD
N"E EXPRESS ALL MY SORR[1 NO1 N IF ,I US$
UP A :OLE DIC;N>Y4 ,Y M/ J IMAG9E X4 ,I
2HAV$ T]RIBLY 6Y--& ,I'VE 4GRAC$ ! DE>
FRS1 ,MAT!W & ,M>ILLA1 :O H LET ME /AY AT
,GRE5 ,GA#S AL? ,I'M N A BOY4 ,I'M A
DR1D;LLY WICK$ & UNGRATE;L GIRL1 & ,I
DES]VE 6BE PUNI%$ & CA/ \ 0RESPECTA# P
="E4 ,X 0 V WICK$ ( ME 6FLY 96A TEMP] 2C Y
TOLD ME ! TRU?4 ,X ,,0 ! TRU?2 E ^W Y SD 0
TRUE4 ,MY HAIR IS R$ & ,I'M FRECKL$ &SK9NY & UGLY4 ,:AT ,I SD 6Y 0 TRUE1   #AAD
TOO1 B ,I %DN'T H SD X4 ,OH1 ,MRS4 ,LYNDE1
PL1SE1 PL1SE1 =GIVE ME4 ,IF Y REFUSE X W 2
A LIFEL;G SORR[ ON A POOR LL ORPHAN GIRL
WD Y1 EV5 IF %E _H A DR1D;L TEMP]8 ,OH1 ,I
AM SURE Y WDN'T4 ,PL1SE SAY Y =GIVE ME1
,MRS4 ,LYNDE40
  ,ANNE CLASP$ H] H&S TGR1 B[$ H] H1D1 &
WAIT$ =! ^W ( JUDG;T4
  ,"! 0 NO MISTAK+ H] S9C];Y--X BR1!D 9 E
T"O ( H] VOICE4 ,BO? ,M>ILLA & ,MRS4
,LYNDE RECOGNIZ$ XS UNMISTAKA# R+4 ,B !
=M] "U/OOD 9 4MAY T ,ANNE 0 ACTU,Y 5JOY+
H] VALLEY ( HUMILI,N--WAS REVEL+ 9 !
?OR\<;S ( H] ABASE;T4 ,": 0 ! :OLE"S
PUNI%;T ^U : %E1 ,M>ILLA1 _H PLUM$ H]F8
,ANNE _H TURN$ X 96A SPECIES ( POSITIVE
PL1SURE4
  ,GD ,MRS4 ,LYNDE1 N 2+ OV]BURD5$ )
P]CEP;N1 DID N SEE ?4 ,%E ONLY P]CVD T
,ANNE _H MADE A V ?OR\< APOLOGY & ALL
RES5T;T VANI%$ F H] K9DLY1 IF "S:AT
(FICI\S1 HE>T4
  8,"!1 "!1 GET UP1 *10 %E SD HE>TILY4 8,(
C\RSE ,I =GIVE Y4 ,I GUESS ,I 0 A LL TOOH>D ON Y1 ANYWAY4 ,B ,I'M S* AN       #AAE
\TSPOK5 P]SON4 ,Y J M/N'T M9D ME1 T'S :AT4
,X C'T 2 D5I$ YR HAIR IS T]RI# R$2 B ,I
KNEW A GIRL ONCE--W5T 6S*OOL ) H]1 9 FACT
--^: HAIR 0 E MITE Z R$ Z YRS :5 %E 0 "Y1
B :5 %E GREW UP X D>K5$ 6A R1L H&"S
AUBURN4 ,I WDN'T 2 A MITE SURPRIS$ IF YRS
DID1 TOO--N A MITE40
  8,OH1 ,MRS4 ,LYNDE60 ,ANNE DREW A L;G
BR1? Z %E ROSE 6H] FEET4 8,Y H GIV5 ME A
HOPE4 ,I % ALW FEEL T Y >E A B5EFACTOR4
,OH1 ,I CD 5DURE ANY?+ IF ,I ONLY ?"\ MY
HAIR WD 2 A H&"S AUBURN :5 ,I GREW UP4 ,X
WD 2 S M* EASI] 6BE GD IF "O'S HAIR 0 A
H&"S AUBURN1 DON'T Y ?9K8 ,& N[ MAY ,I G \
96YR G>D5 & SIT ON T B5* "U ! APPLE-TREES
:ILE Y & ,M>ILLA >E TALK+8 ,"! IS S M* M
SCOPE = IMAG9,N \ "!40
  8,LAWS1 YES1 RUN AL;G1 *4 ,& Y C PICK A
B\QUET ( !M :ITE ,JUNE LILIES OV] 9 !
CORN] IF Y L40
  ,Z ! DOOR CLOS$ 2H ,ANNE ,MRS4 ,LYNDE
GOT BRISKLY UP 6LI<T A LAMP4
  8,%E'S A R1L ODD LL ?+4 ,TAKE ? *AIR1
,M>ILLA2 X'S EASI] ?AN ! "O Y'VE GOT2 ,I JKEEP T =! HIR$ BOY 6SIT ON4 ,YES1     #AAF
%E C]TA9LY IS AN ODD *1 B "! IS "S?+ K9D (
TAK+ AB H] AF ALL4 ,I DON'T FEEL S
SURPRIS$ AT Y & ,MAT!W KEEP+ H] Z ,I DID--
NOR S SORRY = Y1 EI4 ,%E MAY TURN \ ALL
"R4 ,( C\RSE1 %E HAS A QUE] WAY ( EXPRESS+
H]F--A LL TOO--WELL1 TOO K9D ( =CI#1 Y "K2
B %E'LL LIKELY GET OV] T N[ T %E'S -E
6LIVE AM;G CIVILIZ$ FOLKS4 ,& !N1 H]
TEMP]'S PRETTY QK1 ,I GUESS2 B "!'S "O
-=T1 A * T HAS A QK TEMP]1 J BLAZE UP &
COOL D[N1 A9'T N"E LIKELY 6BE SLY OR
DECEIT;L4 ,PRES]VE ME F A SLY *1 T'S :AT4
,ON ! :OLE1 ,M>ILLA1 ,I K9D ( L H]40
  ,:5 ,M>ILLA W5T HOME ,ANNE CAME \ (!
FRAGRANT TWILI<T (! OR*>D )A %1F ( :ITE
N>CISSI 9 H] H&S4
  8,I APOLOGIZ$ PRETTY WELL1 DIDN'T ,I80
%E SD PR\DLY Z !Y W5T D[N ! LANE4 8,I ?"\
S9CE ,I _H 6D X ,I MI<T Z WELL D X
?OR\<LY40
  8,Y DID X ?OR\<LY1 ALL "R 5\<10 0
,M>ILLA'S -;T4 ,M>ILLA 0 4MAY$ AT F9D+ H]F
9CL9$ 6LAU< OV] ! RECOLLEC;N4 ,%E _H AL AN
UNEASY FEEL+ T %E "\ 6SCOLD ,ANNE =APOLOGIZ+ S WELL2 B !N1 T 0           #AAG
RIDICUL\S6 ,%E -PROMIS$ ) H] 3SCI;E 0SAY+
SEV]ELY3
  8,I HOPE Y WON'T H O3A.N 6MAKE _M M S*
APOLOGIES4 ,I HOPE Y'LL TRY 63TROL YR
TEMP] N[1 ,ANNE40
  8,T WDN'T 2 S H>D IF P WDN'T TWIT ME AB
MY LOOKS10 SD ,ANNE )A SI<4 8,I DON'T GET
CROSS AB O!R ?+S2 B ,I'M ,,S TIR$ ( 2+
TWITT$ AB MY HAIR & X J MAKES ME BOIL "R
OV]4 ,D Y SUPPOSE MY HAIR W RE,Y 2 A H&"S
AUBURN :5 ,I GR[ UP80
  8,Y %DN'T ?9K S M* AB YR LOOKS1 ,ANNE4
,I'M AFRAID Y >E A V VA9 LL GIRL40
  8,H[ C ,I 2 VA9 :5 ,I "K ,I'M HOMELY80
PROTE/$ ,ANNE4 8,I LOVE PRETTY ?+S2 & ,I
HATE 6LOOK 9 ! GLASS & SEE "S?+ T ISN'T
PRETTY4 ,X MAKES ME FEEL S SORR[;L--J Z ,I
FEEL :5 ,I LOOK AT ANY UGLY ?+4 ,I P;Y X
2C X ISN'T B1UTI;L40
  8,H&"S IS Z H&"S DOES10 QUOT$ ,M>ILLA4
8,I'VE _H T SD 6ME 2F1 B ,I H MY D\BTS AB
X10 REM>K$ SKEPTICAL ,ANNE1 SNI6+ AT H]
N>CISSI4 8,OH1 >5'T ^! FL[]S SWEET6 ,X 0
LOVELY ( ,MRS4 ,LYNDE 6GIVE !M 6ME4 ,I HNO H>D FEEL+S AG/ ,MRS4 ,LYNDE N[4    #AAH
,X GIVES Y A LOVELY1 -=TA# FEEL+
6APOLOGIZE & 2 =GIV51 DOESN'T X8 ,>5'T !
/>S B"R TN8 ,IF Y CD LIVE 9 A />1 : "O WD
Y PICK8 ,I'D L T LOVELY CLE> BIG "O AWAY
OV] "! ABV T D>K HILL40
  8,ANNE1 D HOLD YR T;GUE40 SD ,M>ILLA1
?OR\<LY WORN \ TRY+ 6FOLL[ ! GYR,NS (
,ANNE'S ?"\S4
  ,ANNE SD NO M UNTIL !Y TURN$ 96_! [N
LANE4 ,A LL GYPSY W9D CAME D[N X 6MEET !M1
LAD5 )! SPICY P]FUME ( "Y DEW-WET F]NS4
,F> UP 9 ! %AD[S A *E];L LI<T GL1M$ \ "? !
TREES F ! KIT*5 AT ,GRE5 ,GA#S4 ,ANNE
SU45LY CAME CLOSE 6,M>ILLA & SLIPP$ H] H&
96! OLD] WOMAN'S H>D PALM4
  8,X'S LOVELY 6BE GO+ HOME & "K X'S
HOME10 %E SD4 8,I LOVE ,GRE5 ,GA#S ALR1 &
,I N"E LOV$ ANY PLACE 2F4 ,NO PLACE "E
SEEM$ L HOME4 ,OH1 ,M>ILLA1 ,I'M S HAPPY4
,I CD PRAY "R N[ & N F9D X A BIT H>D40
  ,"S?+ W>M & PL1SANT WELL$ UP 9 ,M>ILLA'S
HE>T AT T\* ( T ?9 LL H& 9 H] [N--A ?ROB (
! MAT]N;Y %E _H MISS$1 P]H4 ,XS V
UNA3U/OM$;S & SWEET;S 4TURB$ H]4 ,%E HA/5$6RE/ORE H] S5S,NS 6_! NORMAL CALM     #AAI
09CULCAT+ A MORAL4
  8,IF Y'LL 2 A GD GIRL Y'LL ALW 2 HAPPY1
,ANNE4 ,& Y %D N"E F9D X H>D 6SAY YR
PRAY]S40
  8,SAY+ "O'S PRAY]S ISN'T EXACTLY ! SAME
?+ Z PRAY+10 SD ,ANNE M$ITATIVELY4 8,B
,I'M GO+ 6IMAG9E T ,I'M ! W9D T IS BL[+ UP
"! 9 ^? TREE TOPS4 ,:5 ,I GET TIR$ (!
TREES ,I'LL IMAG9E ,I'M G5TLY WAV+ D[N "H
9 ! F]NS--& !N ,I'LL FLY OV] 6,MRS4
,LYNDE'S G>D5 & SET ! FL[]S DANC+--& !N
,I'LL G ) "O GRT SWOOP OV] ! CLOV] FIELD--
& !N ,I'LL BL[ OV] ! ,LAKE ( ,%9+ ,WAT]S &
RIPPLE X ALL UP 96LL SP>KL+ WAVES4 ,OH1
"!'S S M* SCOPE = IMAG9,N 9 A W9D6 ,S
,I'LL N TALK ANY M J N[1 ,M>ILLA40
  8,?ANKS 2 6GD;S = T10 BR1!D ,M>ILLA 9
DEV\T RELIEF4
