Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the twenty-fifth chapter of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

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Take your chapter by chapter one Bite so many adventures and mountains we can climb take it worth a word line but line one part at a time.

Welcome to Bite at a Time Books, where we read you your favorite classics one byte at a time.

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Today we will be continuing Annif Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery chapter 25 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 the practice of the Fairy Queen in the sitting room.

Presently they came trooping through the hall and out into the kitchen, laughing and chattering gayly.

They did not see Matthew.

Who shrank bashfully back into the shadows beyond the wood box with a boot in one hand and a boot jack 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.

And stood among them.

brighteyed 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 other, 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 and 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 2 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 was as much as he did.

But he was quite sure that Anne.

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 and 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 Berry always wore.

Matthew decided that he would give her one that surely could not be objected to as an unwarranted putting in of his ore.

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 Cuff birds 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, pompador, big, rolling brown eyes and a most extensive and bewildering smile.

She was dressed with exceeding smartness and wore several Bengal 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 Bengals completely wrecked his wits at one fell swoop.

What can I do for you this evening, Mr.

Cospert?

Miss Lucilla Harris inquired briskly and ingratiatingly, tapping the counter with both hands.

Have you any well, now, say, any garden rakes?

Stammered Matthew.

Ms.

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 upstairs.

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 tonight, Mr.

Cuthbert?

Matthew took his courage in both hands.

And replied, well, now, since you suggested, I might as well take that is, look at buy some hay seed.

Ms.

Harris had heard Matthew Cuthbert called odd.

She now concluded that he was entirely crazy.

We only keep hasied 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 Ms.

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, to look at some sugar lighter.

Brown queried miss Harris patiently.

Oh, well, now, Brown, said Matthew Feebley.

There's a barrel of it over there.

Said Miss Harris, shaking her bangles at it.

It's the only kind we have.

Oh, I'll take £20 of it, said.

Matthew, with beads of perspiration standing on his forehead.

Matthew had driven halfway 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 Toolhouse, but the sugar he carried into 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 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 Aven Lee would Matthew have.

Dared to ask advice to Mrs.

Lynd.

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 to Anne, to be sure I will.

I'm going to Carmidy 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, and 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 a surprise.

Well, I'll do it.

No, it isn't a might of trouble.

I like sewing.

I'll make it to fit my niece Jenny Gillis, for she and Anne are like as two peas as far as figure goes.

Well, now, I'm much obliged, said Matthew, and I don't know, but I think they make the sleeves different nowadays to what they used to be.

If it wouldn't be asking too much, I'd like to see them made in the new way.

Of course.

You need to 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 addresses 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 have brought up children know that there's no hard and fast method in the world that'll suit every child, but then it's never have.

Think it's all plain and easy as rule of three.

Just set your three terms down so fast and the sum will work out correct.

But flesh and blood don't come under the head of arithmetic.

And that's where Marilla Kuspart 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 60 years.

Marilla knew all the following fortnite 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.

Marla behaved pretty well on the whole, although it is very likely she distrusted Mrs.

Lynn's diplomatic explanation that she had made the dress because Matthew was afraid.

And 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 a sheer extravagance.

There's enough material in those sleeves alone to make a waste.

I declare there is.

You'll just pamper Ann'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 Avenlee and peeped out from her frosted gable window with delighted eyes.

The furs in the haunted wood were all feathery and wonderful.

The birches and wild cherry trees were outlined in pearl.

The plowed fields were stretches of snowy dimples.

And there was a crisp tang in the air that was glorious and ran downstairs singing until her voice reechoed 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, 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 fainted 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 penthousekt 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, 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, 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.

Lynn's 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 fuse 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.

Lynn 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 the 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 have 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 Angirl 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 slippers now, and that's a blessing for their two sizes.

Too big for you.

And it would be awful to hear a fairy shuffling.

Josie Pi would be delighted.

Mind you, Rob Wright went home with.

Gertie Pi 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.

Hull had to be decorated, and a.

Last grand rehearsal held.

The concert came off in the evening and was a pronounced success.

The little hull 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 Pi 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 $10.

Mind you, Mr.

Allen is going to send an account of it to the Charlotte Town Paper.

Oh, Diana, will we really see our names in print?

It makes me thrilled 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 was so honored.

Well, your recitations just brought down the house, Anne.

That sad one was simply splendid.

Oh, I was so nervous, Diana, when Mr.

Allen 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 practiced 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.

Sloan 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 Blithe was just splendid.

And 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, and I'm sure you ought to be pleased at that.

It does 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 20 years, sat for a while by the kitchen fire after Anne had gone to bed.

Well, now, I guess our annded as.

Well as any of them, said Matthew proudly.

Yes, she did.

Admitted Marilla.

She is a bright child, Matthew, and she looked really 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 tonight, although I'm not going to tell her so.

Well, now, I was proud of her, and I did tell her so before.

She went upstairs, 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's school.

By and by, there's time enough to think of that, said Marilla.

She is only 13 in March, though tonight it struck me she was growing quite a big girl.

Mrs.

Lynn 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 Queens after a spell.

But nothing needs to 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 with lots of thinking over.

Thank you for joining Byte at a.

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I hope you come back tomorrow for.

The next bite of ANAF Green Gables.