In the summer Diana Barry had a party.
"There will just be the girls in our class," Anne assured Marilla since Marilla knew that Anne had a habit of getting into trouble.
The girls played in the Barrys' garden.
After a while they grew tired of all their games and were ready for mischief.
They soon decided to play "dares," which involved daring one's friends to try something risky.
First Carrie Sloane dared Ruby Gillis to climb the huge willow tree that was infested with fat, green caterpillars.
Much to everyone's surprise, Ruby bravely climbed the tree.
Then Josie Pye dared Jane Andrews to hop around the garden on her left foot without stopping.
Jane Andrews tried but gave up at the third corner.
Josie Pye gloated because Jane Andrews could not do her dare.
Anne saw Josie Pye gloating and quickly dared Josie to walk along the top of the Barrys' garden fence.
Walking along fences requires some skill, but unfortunately Josie Pye had a natural ability for walking on fences.
The girls reluctantly admired Josie's skill and bravery.
Josie came down, flushed with victory, and gave Anne a defiant look.
Anne tossed her red braids. "I don't think it's anything fantastic to walk on such a little, low fence," she said.
"I knew a girl who could walk on a rooftop."
"I don't believe it," said Josie flatly.
"You couldn't walk on a rooftop anyhow," she added.
"Couldn't I?" said Anne, without thinking.
"Then I dare you," said Josie, sneering.
"I dare you to climb up there and walk along the top of the Barrys' kitchen roof."
Anne turned pale, but she walked towards the house.
There was a ladder leaning against the wall.
"Don't do it, Anne," pleaded Diana. "You'll fall off and be killed.
Never mind Josie Pye. It isn't fair to dare anybody to do anything so dangerous."
"I must do it. My honor is at stake," said Anne solemnly.
"If I am killed, you can have my pearl bead ring."
Anne climbed the ladder, balanced herself on the rooftop, and started to walk along it. She was very high.
Anne realized that imagination did not help much when you were walking on a roof.
Nevertheless she managed to take several steps before the catastrophe came.
She swayed and then fell, sliding off the roof and landing headfirst in a garden of vines. The girls below screamed.
When Diana and the other girls—except for Ruby Gillis, who had gone into hysterics—rushed around the house,
they found Anne lying in the tangled vines. She was very pale and limp.
"Anne, are you dead?" shrieked Diana, throwing herself on her knees beside Anne.
Anne sat up, dizzy. "No, Diana," she said uncertainly.
"I am not dead, but I think I am unconscious."
The girls were immensely relieved by Anne's words, especially Josie Pye.
When Mrs. Barry appeared, Anne tried to get to her feet, but she fell back with a sharp little cry of pain.
"What's the matter? Where have you hurt yourself?" demanded Mrs. Barry.
"My ankle," gasped Anne.
Marilla was in the orchard when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Barry and a procession of girls coming toward the house.
Mr. Barry carried Anne in his arms, with her head limp against his shoulder.
At that moment Marilla had a revelation.
Before, she had admitted that she liked Anne—no, that she was very fond of Anne.
But now she knew that Anne was dearer to her than anything on earth.
"Mrs. Barry, what happened?" Marilla gasped. Mrs. Barry had never seen Marilla look so pale and anxious.
Anne herself answered, lifting her head. "Don't be frightened, Marilla.
I was walking on the Barrys' roof, and I fell off. I think I sprained my ankle.
However, I could have broken my neck, but I didn't. Let's look on the bright side!"
Marilla felt the blood return to her face.
Mr. Barry carried Anne into the house.
Later the doctor came and announced that Anne had broken her ankle.
"Don't you feel sorry for me, Marilla?" Anne asked.
"It was your own fault," answered Marilla.
"That's exactly why you should feel sorry for me.
If I could blame somebody, I would feel so much better," Anne said.
"What would you do, Marilla, if someone dared you to walk on the roof?"
"I would stay on the ground and let them dare," Marilla shot back.
"You're strong, Marilla, but I couldn't bear Josie Pye's scorn," Anne said.
"And I think I've been punished enough, so you don't have to punish me.
It hurt dreadfully when the doctor set my ankle in plaster.
I'll miss six weeks of school, and I'll miss the new lady teacher.
She won't be new by the time I'm at school.
And Gilbert—I mean, everybody—will get ahead of me in class."
Over the next six weeks, Anne had many visitors.
Not a day passed without one or more of the schoolgirls dropping in to bring her flowers and books and tell her the news of Avonlea.
Diana, Anne's most faithful friend, visited every day after school.
Even Josie Pye visited once. Anne happily realized that she had many kind friends and neighbors.
One day, after the visitors had left, Anne chatted to Marilla about the news from school.
The new teacher had arrived, and all the girls thought she was perfectly sweet.
She dressed beautifully, and her sleeve puffs were bigger than anybody else's in Avonlea.
"On Friday mornings, Marilla," Anne said, "everybody has to recite a poem or a story. How exciting!
On Friday afternoons Miss Stacy, the new teacher, takes everyone to the woods for a 'field day,' and they study ferns and flowers and birds.
And they have physical education exercises every morning and afternoon.
Mrs. Lynde says it's ridiculous, but I think it's splendid.
I believe Miss Stacy will be a kindred spirit."
"There's one thing that's quite clear, Anne," said Marilla.
"Falling off the Barrys' roof hasn't injured your tongue."