Thread by @lainasparetime

Had to update the #LainaReads masterthread before we got started on today's chapter. I actually can't believe I only missed 3 days. I was feeling so guilty for it being so long. It felt like at least a week!

#LainaReadsAnne Well, fittingly, since we closed the last chapter talking about him, this chapter is a Matthew chapter.

#LainaReadsAnne It's a cold, grey December evening and Matthew is basically trapped in a corner. Unknown to him, Anne and a group of her schoolfriends (plus Josie Pye) were rehearsing "The Fairy Queen" in the living room.

#LainaReadsAnne After a long day, Matthew came in, sat down in the wood-box corner of the kitchen to take his boots off, and the girls spilled into the room, giggling and talking as many girls who are excited about something do.

#LainaReadsAnne Since he's flatly terrified of any girl child who isn't Anne, he tries very hard to disappear into the shadows so they don't notice him as they get on their coats and things to leave.

#LainaReadsAnne As Anne is seeing them off, Matthew realizes there's something about her that's different from the other girls. And he thinks there shouldn't be, as she "has a brighter face, and bigger, starrier eyes". It puzzles and worries him deeply.

#LainaReadsAnne He can't bring it u to Marilla as she'd just say something about the difference being that sometimes the other girls "hold their tongues". (*snicker*)

#LainaReadsAnne It takes him about two hours of deep thought (and pipe smoking, which he only does when he's troubled about something and Marilla hates with a passion) for him to come to a conclusion.

#LainaReadsAnne What he realizes is Anne isn't dressed like the other girls. And she never has been. The other girls were "all gay in waists of red and blue and pink and white" but Marilla had always kept Anne in "plain, dark dresses all made from the same unvarying pattern."

#LainaReadsAnne He even notices the sleeves are different.

I should make a note of that for adaptations, actually.

#LainaReadsAnne He's sure Marilla knows best... but surely it wouldn't hurt to let Anne have one pretty dress (like Diana, it's said specifically). And since Christmas is just two weeks away, he's going to get her one.

#LainaReadsAnne Problem solved!

He goes to bed and Marilla goes about opening every door in the house to air it out, lol.

#LainaReadsAnne The very next day, Matthew goes to Carmody to buy a dress. He decides to go to Samuel Lawson's store instead of the usual William Blair's, which the Cuthberts are almost as loyal to as church or political party, as William's two daughters often wait on customers.

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew is okay with them if he knows exactly what he wants and can point it out, but he cannot deal when he has to explain so much. So, Lawson's it is, so he can deal with Samuel or his son.

Except.

#LainaReadsAnne Samual has recently expanded and hired a lady clerk as well.

Matthew is basically done for.

#LainaReadsAnne He asks for garden rakes... in December, and then hayseed... in December (they only stock it in the spring, as that's when you need it), almost leaves without paying for his rake, and then buys *20 pounds* of brown sugar.

Poor quality brown sugar.

#LainaReadsAnne Also apparently Jerry Buote has gone also? Maybe he goes home for the winter since there's not much to do? I'm not sure and it's not really explained here.

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew thinks about the whole thing and realizes he needs reinforcements - and those reinforcements being a woman could be helpful. He obviously can't ask Marilla, though, as she'd just say know to a frivillous thing like this.

#LainaReadsAnne So the only other women he can fo to for help on the island... or can even talk to, probably... is our very own Mrs Rachel Lynde.

#LainaReadsAnne Very luckily, this is the type of situation Mrs Rachel is glad to get involved in, and honestly excells at taking over. (The woman's raised how many girl children? She's sewn a few dresses in her life, I'm betting.)

#LainaReadsAnne Mrs Rachel decies a nice rich brown will suit Anne, and there's a "new gloria" at Blair's store that's really pretty.

Gloria is a glossy fabric, made of silk and wool or silk and cotton.

#LainaReadsAnne I don't think it's very common anymore, but it was used for things like dresses and also umbrellas forums.threadsmagazine.com/gatherings/gen…

Which in 1928, a gloria umbrella would cost you 2.95 newspaperarchive.com/athens-messeng…

#LainaReadsAnne That's about... 42 dollars US today for an umbrella.

Jeez, Matthew didn't cheap out on this dress, did he? If that's how much an umbrella cost, that really would be a nice dress. I would imagine gloria was cheaper than silk being a blend, but still decently pricy

#LainaReadsAnne How do you all feel about the choice of brown? I like it - a rich brown would be a great colour on Anne as she is a redhead and pinks and reds might not suit her as well.

#LainaReadsAnne Plus it wouldn't stand out quite as much from her other clothes, I think, to make them look bad or make her feel weird or like she's in a costume, you know?

Also she's almost thirteen. A dress that's a little more grown-up might be a nice thing.

#LainaReadsAnne Mrs Rachel also offers to make the dress so Anne doesn't "get wind of it" and "spoil the surprise".

She says that, but it's pretty clear she doesn't think Marilla would agree with the plan either.

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew even makes sure to say "if it wouldn't be asking too much" if she could make the sleves how the girls are wearing them now. And we know how much Anne wants those puffed sleeves!! They really are kindred spirits.

#LainaReadsAnne Privately, Mrs Rachel thinks it's "positively ridiculous" how Marilla dresses Anne, but she's kept er mouth shut as she knows Marilla wouldn't appreciate her advice.

#LainaReadsAnne You know, I see both sides on this. I do think kids should be allowed to dress as they please, if possible, even if adults think their choices or the trends look silly, but I understand that Marilla means well, too.

#LainaReadsAnne Mrs Rachel brings it by Christmas Eve and Marilla is a little snarky about it, but "tolerant". Side note, Matthew has apparently been grinning to himself about it for the last two weeks. How adorable is that?

#LainaReadsAnne Anne hasn't said anything about the puffed sleeves since she came, Marilla admits. They've apparently been getting bigger and bigger, too. "Next year anybody who wears them will have to go through a door sideways."

Marilla, never change XD

#LainaReadsAnne It's a lovely white Christmas. Despite a mild December, just enough snow fell to cover Avonlea and make it an absolute Winter Wonderland.

#LainaReadsAnne Anne comes down to breakfast estatic at the simple fact that it's Christmas, and is stunned when Matthew gives her the dress. Marilla, meanwhile, pretends not to be interested.

#LainaReadsAnne And it is a DRESS. A "lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk; a skirt with dainty frills and shirrings; a waist elaborately pintucked in the most fashionable way, with a little ruffle of lace at the neck."

#LainaReadsAnne "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."

It's everything Anne has ever dreamed of, basically. Mrs Rachel can SEW. Like, give it up for her.

#LainaReadsAnne That is an elaborate dress made in less than 2 weeks going off the measurements of another girl who's very similar in frame to Anne so Anne wouldn't find out. She even gave Anne a matching hair ribbon as a gift from her. Like, raise a glass to Mrs Rachel.

#LainaReadsAnne Matthew becomes concerned she doesn't like it as she starts tearing up. Of course, she absolutely adores it and is just overwhelmed by how grateful she is.

#LainaReadsAnne Diana comes to see Anne after breakfast to say Merry Christmas and to give Anne a gift from Aunt Josephine - a beautiful pair of kid slippers.

Which probably looked something like this collections.lacma.org/node/225214

#LainaReadsAnne And lucky for Anne she has a perfect opportunity to wear both as the Christmas concert is tonight!

It's a "pronounced success" and Anne is a bright star of it all. She performs wonderfully and is so happy at the end of the night.

#LainaReadsAnne The school makes 10 dollars from the concert, which would probably come out at over 200 if not closer to 300 dollars. That's a fair chunk of change for a flag!

#LainaReadsAnne Diana says Gilbert Blythe was "just splendid" and says the way Anne treats him is kinda mean. Apparently after the fairy dialogue, one of Anne's roses fell out of her hair and Gil picked it up and kept it.

#LainaReadsAnne "You're so romantic that I'm sure you ought to be pleased at that."

Diana is a bit of a shipper on deck here!

#LainaReadsAnne That night, Marilla and Matthew sit up talking about Anne and the concert. They both think they did so well, and Marilla admits she looked very nice, too. She even says she doesn't think there was any harm in the "concert scheme", which is big praise from Marilla.

#LainaReadsAnne They also begin to realize Anne is growing up. Mrs Rachel made her dress a "mite too long" because Mrs Rachel is smart and knows when a kid really likes something, it's not a bad idea to give them a little growing room so it lasts longer.

#LainaReadsAnne Apparently that made Anne look very tall. She'll be thirteen in March, and Matthew says she'll "need something more than Avonlea school by and by" and Marilla agrees. She says the best thing will be to send her to Queen's "after a spell".

#LainaReadsAnne Interestingly, Marilla doesn't think they need to talk about it for a year or so. Funny for such a decisive woman, though she sometimes does delay telling Anne things so she won't get overexcited as Anne is wont to do.

#LainaReadsAnne Meanwhile, Matthew thinks things "like that are all the better for lots of thinking over" which is super in character for him, honestly.

#LainaReadsAnne And we close out what is probably my absolute favourite chapter in the book.

I also wanna give a shout-out to this doll blog. Random, I know, but the person made a doll version of the dress from this chapter ccdollblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-ann…

#LainaReadsAnne No confirmations yet obviously, but there's a chance they've made the most accurate version than any of the adaptations. I can't find a twitter account, but they do have a facebook page ccdollblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-ann…

Just props, because it's a cool thing.

#LainaReadsAnne Wow, I broke this thread badly. It continues here

https://twitter.com/lainasparetime/status/1094662009235206145