Anne refuses to leave her bedroom if it means apologizing to Mrs. Rachel, forcing Marilla to confess the child’s tantrum to Matthew. As usual, Matthew takes Anne’s side and remains the sensible voice in the room—Anne does not know any better based on her upbringing. Knowing that his sister will stand her ground, Matthew sneaks up to Anne’s bedroom and asks her to “just smooth it over” (85) with Mrs. Rachel so Anne can return to her daily activities. Anne agrees to do it for him.

Shortly after, Anne tells Marilla she will apologize. Marilla, thinking she has earned the victory, promptly takes Anne to Mrs. Rachel’s house, but she notices subtle differences in Anne’s behavior as they get closer: her “dejection vanished as if by enchantment” (86), and Marilla feels like Anne is up to something.

As they enter Mrs. Rachel’s home, Anne promptly falls to her knees in a dramatic show of sorrow, calling herself “a dreadfully wicked and ungrateful girl” (87) who desperately needs Mrs. Rachel’s forgiveness. Marilla realizes her whole plan has backfired, but Mrs. Rachel believes Anne. After her successful performance, Anne goes outside to play, and Mrs. Rachel reflects that she “kind of like[s] her” (89).