She had just come back breathlessly, for she had heard that a procession was coming towards her grandmother's house.
"Mrs.Apollonie," Kurt cried out with loud voice, "two whole classes from school have come to you to tell you that it was not Loneli's fault when she had to sit on the shame-bench.

It only happened because her character is so good.

Out of pure politeness she answered a question somebody asked her.

When the teacher wanted to know who was chattering, she honestly accused herself.

She did not tell him that she answered a question in fear of accusing somebody else.