`` You mean , hateful boy ! '' she exclaimed passionately . `` How dare you ! '' And then -- thwack ! Anne had brought her slate down on Gilbert 's head and cracked it -- slate not head -- clear across . Avonlea school always enjoyed a scene . This was an especially enjoyable one . Everybody said `` Oh '' in horrified delight . Diana gasped . Ruby Gillis , who was inclined to be hysterical , began to cry . Tommy Sloane let his team of crickets escape him altogether while he stared open-mouthed at the tableau . Mr. Phillips stalked down the aisle and laid his hand heavily on Anne 's shoulder . `` Anne Shirley , what does this mean ? '' he said angrily . Anne returned no answer . It was asking too much of flesh and blood to expect her to tell before the whole school that she had been called `` carrots . '' Gilbert it was who spoke up stoutly . `` It was my fault Mr. Phillips . I teased her . '' Mr. Phillips paid no heed to Gilbert .
`` I am sorry to see a pupil XXXXX mine displaying such a temper and such a vindictive spirit , '' he said in a solemn tone , as if the mere fact of being a pupil of his ought to root out all evil passions from the hearts of small imperfect mortals .
Avonlea Phillips Sloane across at in of on to while