Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

‘Marian, the headmistress sat in her office. Freda, an Assistant teacher, pretended to consult her.’

a) Who were the students for Marian and Freda?

b) What insights does the reader gain from the situation?

c) What was Anne's reaction?

a) Freda was in the garden with Marian. She had brought her own dolls over; the 'class' seemed larger and brighter, and had a comfortable air. The students for Marian and Freda were their dolls.

b) Deaf and dumb, Marian shrank from children in the neighbourhood, thinking she could not play their games properly. She feared their laughter, thinking it was at her expense. She did not understand their jolly, slangy conversations. But Freda didn’t give up and came back her dolls to play with Marian and she didn’t play with any other children in the neighbourhood but was happily playing with Freda. The golden girl, Freda, was more than gold.

c) Anne warned the girl that Marian was different from other children. One should require endless patience to play with Marian. Anne thanked the girl for her willingness to play with Marian but said that it was of no use. When she came out, she saw something that she had never expected – Marian was playing schools, with Freda. She was very happy and satisfied at the sight of it.