"They must be married."
"Anne! No, they're not married. I don't believe he's asked her yet, but I hope he will. Belle says he's a wonder at his line, cuts the queerest things out of you, and never makes a cut for less than a thousand dollars."
"Maybe he'll do it cheaper for the family. I couldn't afford a pin prick at that rate."
"I hope you'll never need it. But papa seems to like him. Listen. That's him laughing. I like his voice, don't you?"
Anne thought it was cold, rather like one of his wonderful knives, but she said it sounded pleasant and followed Hilda down the hall to the kitchen, where she gave her the black silk underskirt she had brought. Hilda's eyes filled with tears, and she touched the thick messaline lovingly.
"It's the first real silk petticoat I've ever had, Annie. It's almost too nice to wear."
"Now, mamma, you put it right on."
Hilda hesitated, then dropped the torn gingham she was wearing, made a face at it, slipped into the new skirt, and waltzed about the kitchen holding up her dress skirt like a ballet dancer.
"You're just a girl, yourself, mamma. I don't believe you'll ever grow up." Anne watched her mother with the deep tenderness and sense of protection. No piece of finery could ever make her as happy as this black silk petticoat made her mother. It was a shame that she had never been able to have pretty things. The old resentment against her father, somewhat allayed since her marriage, rose in Anne, and she was glad that Dr. Stetson's presence prevented her having to give him at that moment the box of good cigars she had brought. She had always resented giving her father presents, ever since, as a little girl of ten, she had discovered one Christmas morning, that the handkerchiefs with "papa's love" had really come from Hilda's manipulation of the tissue-wrapped allotments. She had succeeded in losing every one of the handkerchiefs before New Year, but she had gone on giving him gifts and thanking him for his.
Hilda had waltzed into the bedroom, and now returned with the family's remembrances to Anne and Roger, a silver cigarette case from Belle, a necktie from James and Hilda to Roger. Three pair of silk stockings from Belle to Anne, a hand-embroidered nightgown from Hilda and James.