better, Anne. That you did.
You come straight to Miss Farlow. She was dreadful worried when I told
her I couldn't find you."

Miss Farlow, too, reproved Anne sharply. She was to have a
bread-and-water supper, and then go straight to bed. And she must never
again go out of bounds alone--never. That was strictly forbidden.

Anne ate her bread and drank her water with a downcast air. She was not
thinking about the scolding and her punishment. She was troubled because
Miss Farlow had forbidden her to go off the 'Home' grounds again. Must
she give up her dear secret playhouse? She and Honey-Sweet had had such
a good time! And they were planning to spend all their Saturday
afternoons there. Finally she asked Emma what would be done if she
disobeyed Miss Farlow and went outside bounds again.

Emma knew and answered promptly and cheerfully. She would be whipped,
and that severely.

Anne turned this over in her mind. She was very much afraid of the rod
which had seldom been used to correct her--but a whipping did not last
long, after all, and it would be far worse to give up her beautiful new
playhouse. If Miss Farlow wished to whip her for going there, why, Miss
Farlow would have to do it. Grown-up people had to have their way. But
she wondered if Miss Farlow would not just as lief whip her before she
went as after she came back. It would be a pity to spoil the beautiful
afternoon with expectation of punishment.

After prayers next Saturday morning, Anne lingered near Miss Farlow's
desk.

"Do you wish to speak to me, Anne Lewis?" asked that lady, frowning over
a handful of bills.

"If you please--wouldn't you as soon--won't you please whip me before I
go out of bounds?" she requested.

"What's that you're saying, Anne Lewis? What do you mean?" asked Miss
Farlow.

Anne explained.

"Pity sake!" the bewildered lady exclaimed. She looked at Anne over her
spectacles, then took them off and stared as if trying to find out what
kind of a queer little creature this was. "Do you mean," she inquired
solemnly, "that you'd rather be a bad girl and go out of bounds and be
whipped--rather than be good and stay in bounds?"

"If you please, Miss Farlow." Anne stood her ground bravely though her
knees were shaking.

"Anne Lewis, if whipping will not make you obey, we must--must try
something else," Miss Farlow said severely. She considered awhile, then
she asked: "Why are you so anxious to go out of bounds?"

Anne went a step