s 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 tomorrow 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 Matthe