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