In the Woods When First We Met

157. School Plans

"I don't see how we can send her to school, now," Marilla said on Sunday evening as Anne was reading upstairs on her bed.

Matthew shook his head. "We can't let her be around that boy."

They sat quietly, feeling helpless.

Matthew thought of something. "Colleges have correspondence courses, I know."

"Yes, but- that's college. I don't know if they have anything like that for younger students," Marilla said. "I can check in the paper- sometimes things like that are listed in the back advertising section..."

But she remembered she'd thrown out the paper. She could wait on next week's...no, she'd have to go into town and get a new one. They couldn't wait another week to develop some plan of what to do.

"Even if there aren't any correspondence courses for young students, she could still do lessons at home, I suppose. Though I certainly don't feel qualified to teach her myself," Marilla said.

"Maybe we could engage a tutor..." Matthew suggested, but as soon as it was out of his mouth, he shook his head.

Marilla nodded, knowingly. "I don't think we can afford to engage a tutor- generally they're learned men from universities and can get quite expensive." Then she said, "I don't like the idea of her sitting alone with a man, anyway. Of course I'd stay nearby. But after what she's been through- and what she knows of Mr. Phillips, well, I'm afraid it might frighten her. How can she learn anything if she's uncomfortable?"

"I'm surprised she's been able to learn anything at all in the past weeks at school," Matthew remarked. "Don't know how she's done it. She's kept perfect grades despite sitting near that boy."

They both felt upset that Anne had had to sit there and endure that.

Then Matthew had an idea: "We could see if she could go to school in another town, if it's allowed."

"In another town?"

"I'd drive her in the mornings in the buggy and come back to pick her up in the afternoons."

"That'd be quite the drive, every day- and twice a day," Marilla commented.

"Well, we can't have her stay here. And we can't let her give up school, either."

"True," Marilla said with a sigh. "It doesn't seem fair, though..."

Matthew agreed, saying gruffly: "I don't like that Billy can drive her out of her school. And he'll keep going there- nothing's changed for him."