This was a staggerer . Davy was not prepared for such a concrete example of the freedom of speech . But one did not have to be consistent with Dora . `` Of course not , '' he admitted sulkily . '' ` Tomcat ' is n't a holy word . I would n't mention such an animal before a minister at all . '' `` But if you had to ? '' persisted Dora . `` I 'd call it a Thomas pussy , '' said Davy . '' I think ` gentleman cat ' would be more polite , '' reflected Dora . `` YOU thinking ! '' retorted Davy with withering scorn . Davy was not feeling comfortable , though he would have died before he admitted it to Dora . Now that the exhilaration of truant delights had died away , his conscience was beginning to give him salutary twinges . After all , perhaps it would have been better to have gone to Sunday School and church . Mrs. Lynde might be bossy ; but there was always a box of cookies in her kitchen cupboard and she was not stingy . At this inconvenient moment Davy remembered that when he had torn his new school pants the week before , Mrs. Lynde had mended them beautifully and never said a word to Marilla about them . But Davy 's cup of iniquity was not yet full . He was to discover that one sin demands another to cover it . They had dinner with Mrs. Lynde that day , and the first thing she asked Davy was , `` Were all your class in Sunday School today ? ''
`` Yes 'm , '' said Davy XXXXX a gulp .
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