Mr. Hawkins, the headmaster, stopped Anna one day at the school gate.
“Now," he said,“ I want you to tell me the 1 , my dear. "Feeling something terrible had happened, Anna said slowly,“2.”
“I have had a most 3 accusation(投诉) made against you by Mrs. Bond.”
“MK. Bond?” said Anna, not understanding. Janet Bond was a quiet little 4of a Child. As far as Anna could remember she had never had 5to speak an angry word to the girl.
“Mrs. Bond,” went on Mt Hawkins“ told me that you scolded(责备) her daughter yesterday afternoon.
“Scolded?” cried Anna “I certainly didn't do that. 6not in school.” she added honestly.
Mr. Bond's 7 is that Janet was a little late back to school in the afternoon. She said she set out from home a little late.
“Just a minute.” said Anna, beginning to 8“She did come late, very late. I had marked her 9 of course. Then she 10slowly in, when we'd started our paper-cutting, and I believe I said she was a nuisance(讨厌 ). She didn't appear to hear, and was certainly quite11.”
“A nuisance!” Mr. Hawkins couldn't12 it and asked, “You're sure you said nuisance?”
“I may not even have said that,” Anna replied. “I was not angry at all at that moment—13I certainly didn't scold.”
“Mrs. Bond said that you called her child "nuisance". Is that true?”
“Indeed it isn't.” said Anna. “The child-or the other-had 14it up!”
After Anna's explanation, Mr. Hawkins felt15.“Just as I thought, my dear, but of course I had to make sure.”
