Аня із Зелених Мезонінів

           Perhapsyou’dlikemetomakeitupforher,too,seeingthatifMarillawastomakeitAnnewouldprobablygetwindofitbeforethetimeandspoilthesurprise?Well,I’lldoit.No,itisn’tamiteoftrouble.Ilikesewing.I’llmakeittofitmyniece,JennyGillis,forsheandAnneareaslikeastwopeasasfarasfiguregoes.”

           “Wellnow,I’mmuchobliged,”saidMatthew,“and—and—Idunno—butI’dlike—Ithinktheymakethesleevesdifferentnowadaystowhattheyusedtobe.Ifitwouldn’tbeaskingtoomuchI—I’dlikethemmadeinthenewway.”

           “Puffs?Ofcourse.Youneedn’tworryaspeckmoreaboutit,Matthew.I’llmakeitupintheverylatestfashion,”saidMrs.Lynde.ToherselfsheaddedwhenMatthewhadgone:

           “It’llbearealsatisfactiontoseethatpoorchildwearingsomethingdecentforonce.ThewayMarilladressesherispositivelyridiculous,that’swhat,andI’veachedtotellhersoplainlyadozentimes.I’veheldmytonguethough,forIcanseeMarilladoesn’twantadviceandshethinkssheknowsmoreaboutbringingchildrenupthanIdoforallshe’sanoldmaid.Butthat’salwaystheway.Folksthathasbroughtupchildrenknowthatthere’snohardandfastmethodintheworldthat’llsuiteverychild.Butthemasneverhavethinkit’sallasplainandeasyasRuleofThree—justsetyourthreetermsdownsofashion,andthesum‘llworkoutcorrect.Butfleshandblooddon’tcomeundertheheadofarithmeticandthat’swhereMarillaCuthbertmakeshermistake.