The next morning when Marilla tells Matthew about what Anne said to Mrs. Lynde, Matthew is far from feeling disappointed with the girl—he applauds her, stating that it was time someone spoke up to the “meddlesome old gossip.” This annoys Marilla, who believes Anne should be punished. Matthew says he agrees that Anne should have a small punishment but urges his sister not to be too harsh with the girl. He reminds Marilla that Anne has not had very good training in social graces. Marilla says Anne will have to stay in her room until she decides to apologize to Mrs. Lynde, but Marilla will not make Anne miss any meals. Marilla will take the time to carry Anne’s meals up to her room.

For three meals that day, Marilla must take a food tray to Anne’s room because the child is too stubborn to give in. So when Matthew sees Marilla leave the house to walk to the fields to bring the cows home, he takes advantage of his sister’s absence and goes upstairs to talk to Anne.

Matthew says he wants to make sure Anne is doing all right after spending the entire day in her room. Anne reports that she is a little lonesome, but she might as well get used to it, insinuating that she might be confined to her room for a long time. Matthew points out that eventually Anne will have to apologize because Marilla is a head-strong woman who never backs down from anything once she sets her mind to it. He suggests, if an apology is inevitable, why not do it and get it over with as soon as possible so she can get out of her room? Anne says she thinks she can do that, at least for Matthew’s sake. She adds that she would not be exactly lying when she apologizes because she is truly sorry for what she said. The only problem is that it would be very humiliating to say this to Mrs. Lynde. She would rather stay in her room than do that. However, if this is what Matthew wants, Anne says she can do it for him.

When Marilla returns to the house, Matthew is already out in the barn, afraid that she might catch him interfering in the raising of Anne. He told Anne not to tell Marilla that he spoke to her, which Anne promised to do.

Later, Marilla and Anne walk down to Mrs. Lynde’s house. Anne has prepared her speech, which she delivers with a dramatic flair that includes getting down on her knees. She tells Mrs. Lynde that she is “so extremely sorry” and could not express her sorrow even if she used all the words in the dictionary to do so. She belittles herself, saying she is wicked and ungrateful and deserves to be punished. Then she ends by asking for Mrs. Lynde’s forgiveness.

Afterward, when they are back at Green Gables, Marilla tries hard to keep from laughing every time she thinks about Anne’s performance; and it was, she surmises, indeed a performance. She wonders if she should reprimand Anne for apologizing so well but realizes that would be ridiculous.