MATTHEW INSISTS ON PUFFED SLEEVES
Matthew was having a bad ten minutes of it. He had come into the
kitchen, in the twilight of a cold, gray December evening, and had sat
down in the wood-box corner to take off his heavy boots, unconscious of
the fact that Anne and a bevy of her schoolmates were having a practice
of “The Fairy Queen” in the sitting-room. Presently they came trooping
through the hall and out into the kitchen, laughing and chattering
gaily. They did not see Matthew, who shrank bashfully back into the
shadows beyond the wood-box with a boot in one hand and a bootjack in
the other, and he watched them shyly for the aforesaid ten minutes as
they put on caps and jackets and talked about the dialogue and the
concert. Anne stood among them, bright-eyed and animated as they; but
Matthew suddenly became conscious that there was something about her
different from her mates. And what worried Matthew was that the
difference impressed him as being something that should not exist. Anne
had a brighter face, and bigger, starrier eyes, and more delicate
features than the others; even shy, unobservant Matthew had learned to
take note of these things; but the difference that disturbed him did
not consist in any of these respects. Then in what did it consist?
Matthew was haunted by this question long after the girls had gone, arm
in arm, down the long, hard-frozen lane and Anne had betaken herself to
her books. He could not refer it to Marilla, who, he felt, would be
quite sure to sniff scornfully and remark that the only difference she
saw between Anne and the other girls was that they sometimes kept their
tongues quiet while Anne never did. This, Matthew felt, would be no
great help.
He had recourse to his pipe that evening to help him study it out, much
to Marilla’s disgust. After two hours of smoking and hard reflection
Matthew arrived at a solution of his problem. Anne was not dressed like
the other girls!
The more Matthew thought about the matter the more he was convinced
that Anne never had been dressed like the other girls—never since she
had come to Green Gables. Marilla kept her clothed in plain, dark
dresses, all made after the same unvarying pattern. If Matthew knew
there was such a thing as fashion in dress it is much as he did; but he
was quite sure that Anne’s sleeves did not look at all like the sleeves
the other girls wore. He recalled the cluster of little girls he had
seen around her that evening—all gay in waists of red and blue and pink
and white—and he wondered why Marilla always kept her so plainly and
soberly gowned.
Of course, it must be all right. Marilla knew best and Marilla was
bringing her up. Probably some wise, inscrutable motive was to be
served thereby. But surely it would do no harm to let the child have
one pretty dress—something like Diana Barry always wore. Matthew
decided that he would give her one; that surely could not be objected
to as an unwarranted putting in of his oar. Christmas was only a
fortnight off. A nice new dress would be the very thing for a present.
Matthew, with a sigh of satisfaction, put away his pipe and went to
bed, while Marilla opened all the doors and aired the house.
The very next evening Matthew betook himself to Carmody to buy the
dress, determined to get the worst over and have done with it. It would
be, he felt assured, no trifling ordeal. There were some things Matthew
could buy and prove himself no mean bargainer; but he knew he would be
at the mercy of shopkeepers when it came to buying a girl’s dress.
After much cogitation Matthew resolved to go to Samuel Lawson’s store
instead of William Blair’s. To be sure, the Cuthberts always had gone
to William Blair’s; it was almost as much a matter of conscience with
them as to attend the Presbyterian church and vote Conservative. But
William Blair’s two daughters frequently waited on customers there and
Matthew held them in absolute dread. He could contrive to deal with
them when he knew exactly what he wanted and could point it out; but in
such a matter as this, requiring explanation and consultation, Matthew
felt that he must be sure of a man behind the counter. So he would go
to Lawson’s, where Samuel or his son would wait on him.
Alas! Matthew did not know that Samuel, in the recent expansion of his
business, had set up a lady clerk also; she was a niece of his wife’s
and a very dashing young person indeed, with a huge, drooping
pompadour, big, rolling brown eyes, and a most extensive and
bewildering smile. She was dressed with exceeding smartness and wore
several bangle bracelets that glittered and rattled and tinkled with
every movement of her hands. Matthew was covered with confusion at
finding her there at all; and those bangles completely wrecked his wits
at one fell swoop.
“What can I do for you this evening, Mr. Cuthbert?” Miss Lucilla Harris
inquired, briskly and ingratiatingly, tapping the counter with both
hands.
“Have you any—any—any—well now, say any garden rakes?” stammered
Matthew.
Miss Harris looked somewhat surprised, as well she might, to hear a man
inquiring for garden rakes in the middle of December.
“I believe we have one or two left over,” she said, “but they’re
up-stairs in the lumber-room. I’ll go and see.”
During her absence Matthew collected his scattered senses for another
effort.
When Miss Harris returned with the rake and cheerfully inquired:
“Anything else to-night, Mr. Cuthbert?” Matthew took his courage in
both hands and replied: “Well now, since you suggest it, I might as
well—take—that is—look at—buy some—some hayseed.”
Miss Harris had heard Matthew Cuthbert called odd. She now concluded
that he was entirely crazy.
“We only keep hayseed in the spring,” she explained loftily. “We’ve
none on hand just now.”
“Oh, certainly—certainly—just as you say,” stammered unhappy Matthew,
seizing the rake and making for the door. At the threshold he
recollected that he had not paid for it and he turned miserably back.
While Miss Harris was counting out his change he rallied his powers for
a final desperate attempt.
“Well now—if it isn’t too much trouble—I might as well—that is—I’d like
to look at—at—some sugar.”
“White or brown?” queried Miss Harris patiently.
“Oh—well now—brown,” said Matthew feebly.
“There’s a barrel of it over there,” said Miss Harris, shaking her
bangles at it. “It’s the only kind we have.”
“I’ll—I’ll take twenty pounds of it,” said Matthew, with beads of
perspiration standing on his forehead.
Matthew had driven half-way home before he was his own man again. It
had been a gruesome experience, but it served him right, he thought,
for committing the heresy of going to a strange store. When he reached
home he hid the rake in the tool-house, but the sugar he carried in to
Marilla.
“Brown sugar!” exclaimed Marilla. “Whatever possessed you to get so
much? You know I never use it except for the hired man’s porridge or
black fruit-cake. Jerry’s gone and I’ve made my cake long ago. It’s not
good sugar, either—it’s coarse and dark—William Blair doesn’t usually
keep sugar like that.”
“I—I thought it might come in handy sometime,” said Matthew, making
good his escape.
When Matthew came to think the matter over he decided that a woman was
required to cope with the situation. Marilla was out of the question.
Matthew felt sure she would throw cold water on his project at once.
Remained only Mrs. Lynde; for of no other woman in Avonlea would
Matthew have dared to ask advice. To Mrs. Lynde he went accordingly,
and that good lady promptly took the matter out of the harassed man’s
hands.
“Pick out a dress for you to give Anne? To be sure I will. I’m going to
Carmody to-morrow and I’ll attend to it. Have you something particular
in mind? No? Well, I’ll just go by my own judgment then. I believe a
nice rich brown would just suit Anne, and William Blair has some new
gloria in that’s real pretty. Perhaps you’d like me to make it up for
her, too, seeing that if Marilla was to make it Anne would probably get
wind of it before the time and spoil the surprise? Well, I’ll do it.
No, it isn’t a mite of trouble. I like sewing. I’ll make it to fit my
niece, Jenny Gillis, for she and Anne are as like as two peas as far as
figure goes.”
“Well now, I’m much obliged,” said Matthew, “and—and—I dunno—but I’d
like—I think they make the sleeves different nowadays to what they used
to be. If it wouldn’t be asking too much I—I’d like them made in the
new way.”
“Puffs? Of course. You needn’t worry a speck more about it, Matthew.
I’ll make it up in the very latest fashion,” said Mrs. Lynde. To
herself she added when Matthew had gone:
“It’ll be a real satisfaction to see that poor child wearing something
decent for once. The way Marilla dresses her is positively ridiculous,
that’s what, and I’ve ached to tell her so plainly a dozen times. I’ve
held my tongue though, for I can see Marilla doesn’t want advice and
she thinks she knows more about bringing children up than I do for all
she’s an old maid. But that’s always the way. Folks that has brought up
children know that there’s no hard and fast method in the world that’ll
suit every child. But them as never have think it’s all as plain and
easy as Rule of Three—just set your three terms down so fashion, and
the sum’ll work out correct. But flesh and blood don’t come under the
head of arithmetic and that’s where Marilla Cuthbert makes her mistake.
I suppose she’s trying to cultivate a spirit of humility in Anne by
dressing her as she does; but it’s more likely to cultivate envy and
discontent. I’m sure the child must feel the difference between her
clothes and the other girls’. But to think of Matthew taking notice of
it! That man is waking up after being asleep for over sixty years.”
Marilla knew all the following fortnight that Matthew had something on
his mind, but what it was she could not guess, until Christmas Eve,
when Mrs. Lynde brought up the new dress. Marilla behaved pretty well
on the whole, although it is very likely she distrusted Mrs. Lynde’s
diplomatic explanation that she had made the dress because Matthew was
afraid Anne would find out about it too soon if Marilla made it.
“So this is what Matthew has been looking so mysterious over and
grinning about to himself for two weeks, is it?” she said a little
stiffly but tolerantly. “I knew he was up to some foolishness. Well, I
must say I don’t think Anne needed any more dresses. I made her three
good, warm, serviceable ones this fall, and anything more is sheer
extravagance. There’s enough material in those sleeves alone to make a
waist, I declare there is. You’ll just pamper Anne’s vanity, Matthew,
and she’s as vain as a peacock now. Well, I hope she’ll be satisfied at
last, for I know she’s been hankering after those silly sleeves ever
since they came in, although she never said a word after the first. The
puffs have been getting bigger and more ridiculous right along; they’re
as big as balloons now. Next year anybody who wears them will have to
go through a door sideways.”
Christmas morning broke on a beautiful white world. It had been a very
mild December and people had looked forward to a green Christmas; but
just enough snow fell softly in the night to transfigure Avonlea. Anne
peeped out from her frosted gable window with delighted eyes. The firs
in the Haunted Wood were all feathery and wonderful; the birches and
wild cherry-trees were outlined in pearl; the ploughed fields were
stretches of snowy dimples; and there was a crisp tang in the air that
was glorious. Anne ran down-stairs singing until her voice re-echoed
through Green Gables.
“Merry Christmas, Marilla! Merry Christmas, Matthew! Isn’t it a lovely
Christmas? I’m so glad it’s white. Any other kind of Christmas doesn’t
seem real, does it? I don’t like green Christmases. They’re _not_
green—they’re just nasty faded browns and grays. What makes people call
them green? Why—why—Matthew, is that for me? Oh, Matthew!”
Matthew had sheepishly unfolded the dress from its paper swathings and
held it out with a deprecatory glance at Marilla, who feigned to be
contemptuously filling the teapot, but nevertheless watched the scene
out of the corner of her eye with a rather interested air.
Anne took the dress and looked at it in reverent silence. Oh, how
pretty it was—a lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk; a
skirt with dainty frills and shirrings; a waist elaborately pin-tucked
in the most fashionable way, with a little ruffle of filmy lace at the
neck. But the sleeves—they were the crowning glory! Long elbow cuffs,
and above them two beautiful puffs divided by rows of shirring and bows
of brown silk ribbon.
“That’s a Christmas present for you, Anne,” said Matthew shyly.
“Why—why—Anne, don’t you like it? Well now—well now.”
For Anne’s eyes had suddenly filled with tears.
“_Like_ it! Oh, Matthew!” Anne laid the dress over a chair and clasped
her hands. “Matthew, it’s perfectly exquisite. Oh, I can never thank
you enough. Look at those sleeves! Oh, it seems to me this must be a
happy dream.”
“Well, well, let us have breakfast,” interrupted Marilla. “I must say,
Anne, I don’t think you needed the dress; but since Matthew has got it
for you, see that you take good care of it. There’s a hair ribbon Mrs.
Lynde left for you. It’s brown, to match the dress. Come now, sit in.”
“I don’t see how I’m going to eat breakfast,” said Anne rapturously.
“Breakfast seems so commonplace at such an exciting moment. I’d rather
feast my eyes on that dress. I’m so glad that puffed sleeves are still
fashionable. It did seem to me that I’d never get over it if they went
out before I had a dress with them. I’d never have felt quite
satisfied, you see. It was lovely of Mrs. Lynde to give me the ribbon,
too. I feel that I ought to be a very good girl indeed. It’s at times
like this I’m sorry I’m not a model little girl; and I always resolve
that I will be in future. But somehow it’s hard to carry out your
resolutions when irresistible temptations come. Still, I really will
make an extra effort after this.”
When the commonplace breakfast was over Diana appeared, crossing the
white log bridge in the hollow, a gay little figure in her crimson
ulster. Anne flew down the slope to meet her.
“Merry Christmas, Diana! And oh, it’s a wonderful Christmas. I’ve
something splendid to show you. Matthew has given me the loveliest
dress, with _such_ sleeves. I couldn’t even imagine any nicer.”
“I’ve got something more for you,” said Diana breathlessly. “Here—this
box. Aunt Josephine sent us out a big box with ever so many things in
it—and this is for you. I’d have brought it over last night, but it
didn’t come until after dark, and I never feel very comfortable coming
through the Haunted Wood in the dark now.”
Anne opened the box and peeped in. First a card with “For the Anne-girl
and Merry Christmas,” written on it; and then, a pair of the daintiest
little kid slippers, with beaded toes and satin bows and glistening
buckles.
“Oh,” said Anne, “Diana, this is too much. I must be dreaming.”
“_I_ call it providential,” said Diana. “You won’t have to borrow
Ruby’s slippers now, and that’s a blessing, for they’re two sizes too
big for you, and it would be awful to hear a fairy shuffling. Josie Pye
would be delighted. Mind you, Rob Wright went home with Gertie Pye from
the practice night before last. Did you ever hear anything equal to
that?”
All the Avonlea scholars were in a fever of excitement that day, for
the hall had to be decorated and a last grand rehearsal held.
The concert came off in the evening and was a pronounced success. The
little hall was crowded; all the performers did excellently well, but
Anne was the bright particular star of the occasion, as even envy, in
the shape of Josie Pye, dared not deny.
“Oh, hasn’t it been a brilliant evening?” sighed Anne, when it was all
over and she and Diana were walking home together under a dark, starry
sky.
“Everything went off very well,” said Diana practically. “I guess we
must have made as much as ten dollars. Mind you, Mr. Allan is going to
send an account of it to the Charlottetown papers.”
“Oh, Diana, will we really see our names in print? It makes me thrill
to think of it. Your solo was perfectly elegant, Diana. I felt prouder
than you did when it was encored. I just said to myself, ‘It is my dear
bosom friend who is so honoured.’”
“Well, your recitations just brought down the house, Anne. That sad one
was simply splendid.”
“Oh, I was so nervous, Diana. When Mr. Allan called out my name I
really cannot tell how I ever got up on that platform. I felt as if a
million eyes were looking at me and through me, and for one dreadful
moment I was sure I couldn’t begin at all. Then I thought of my lovely
puffed sleeves and took courage. I knew that I must live up to those
sleeves, Diana. So I started in, and my voice seemed to be coming from
ever so far away. I just felt like a parrot. It’s providential that I
practised those recitations so often up in the garret, or I’d never
have been able to get through. Did I groan all right?”
“Yes, indeed, you groaned lovely,” assured Diana.
“I saw old Mrs. Sloane wiping away tears when I sat down. It was
splendid to think I had touched somebody’s heart. It’s so romantic to
take part in a concert, isn’t it? Oh, it’s been a very memorable
occasion indeed.”
“Wasn’t the boys’ dialogue fine?” said Diana. “Gilbert Blythe was just
splendid. Anne, I do think it’s awful mean the way you treat Gil. Wait
till I tell you. When you ran off the platform after the fairy dialogue
one of your roses fell out of your hair. I saw Gil pick it up and put
it in his breast-pocket. There now. You’re so romantic that I’m sure
you ought to be pleased at that.”
“It’s nothing to me what that person does,” said Anne loftily. “I
simply never waste a thought on him, Diana.”
That night Marilla and Matthew, who had been out to a concert for the
first time in twenty years, sat for awhile by the kitchen fire after
Anne had gone to bed.
“Well now, I guess our Anne did as well as any of them,” said Matthew
proudly.
“Yes, she did,” admitted Marilla. “She’s a bright child, Matthew. And
she looked real nice, too. I’ve been kind of opposed to this concert
scheme, but I suppose there’s no real harm in it after all. Anyhow, I
was proud of Anne to-night, although I’m not going to tell her so.”
“Well now, I was proud of her and I did tell her so ’fore she went
up-stairs,” said Matthew. “We must see what we can do for her some of
these days, Marilla. I guess she’ll need something more than Avonlea
school by and by.”
“There’s time enough to think of that,” said Marilla. “She’s only
thirteen in March. Though to-night it struck me she was growing quite a
big girl. Mrs. Lynde made that dress a mite too long, and it makes Anne
look so tall. She’s quick to learn and I guess the best thing we can do
for her will be to send her to Queen’s after a spell. But nothing need
be said about that for a year or two yet.”
“Well now, it’ll do no harm to be thinking it over off and on,” said
Matthew. “Things like that are all the better for lots of thinking
over.”