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IX. A Question of Color
It’sheartbreaking,afterallthetroublewe’vehad.”
“Howonearthcouldsuchamistakehavehappened?”wailedDiana.
TheblameofthisunmercifuldisasterwaseventuallynarroweddowntothePyes.TheImprovershaddecidedtouseMorton-HarrispaintsandtheMorton-Harrispaintcanswerenumberedaccordingtoacolorcard.Apurchaserchosehisshadeonthecardandorderedbytheaccompanyingnumber.Number147wastheshadeofgreendesiredandwhenMr.RogerPyesentwordtotheImproversbyhisson,JohnAndrew,thathewasgoingtotownandwouldgettheirpaintforthem,theImproverstoldJohnAndrewtotellhisfathertoget147.JohnAndrewalwaysaverredthathedidso,butMr.RogerPyeasstanchlydeclaredthatJohnAndrewtoldhim157;andtherethematterstandstothisday.
ThatnighttherewasblankdismayineveryAvonleahousewhereanImproverlived.ThegloomatGreenGableswassointensethatitquenchedevenDavy.Anneweptandwouldnotbecomforted.
“Imustcry,evenifIamalmostseventeen,Marilla,”shesobbed.“Itissomortifying.Anditsoundsthedeathknellofoursociety.We’llsimplybelaughedoutofexistence.”
Inlife,asindreams,however,thingsoftengobycontraries.TheAvonleapeopledidnotlaugh;theyweretooangry.Theirmoneyhadgonetopaintthehallandconsequentlytheyfeltthemselvesbitterlyaggrievedbythemistake.PublicindignationcenteredonthePyes.
