`` This is for Mrs. Fred Proctor up at the Glen , '' she announced . `` She 's expecting her eighth baby any day now , and not a stitch has she ready for it . The other seven have wore out all she made for the first , and she 's never had time or strength or spirit to make any more . That woman is a martyr , Mrs. Blythe , believe ME . When she married Fred Proctor I knew how it would turn out . He was one of your wicked , fascinating men . After he got married he left off being fascinating and just kept on being wicked . He drinks and he neglects his family . Is n't that like a man ? I do n't know how Mrs. Proctor would ever keep her children decently clothed if her neighbors did n't help her out . '' As Anne was afterwards to learn , Miss Cornelia was the only neighbor who troubled herself much about the decency of the young Proctors . `` When I heard this eighth baby was coming I decided to make some things for it , '' Miss Cornelia went on . `` This is the last and I want to finish it today . '' `` It 's certainly very pretty , '' said Anne . `` I 'll get my sewing and we 'll have a little thimble party of two . You are a beautiful sewer , Miss Bryant . '' `` Yes , I 'm the best sewer in these parts , '' said Miss Cornelia in a matter-of-fact tone . `` I ought to be ! Lord , I 've done more of it than if I 'd had a hundred children of my own , believe ME ! I s ` pose I 'm a fool , to be putting hand embroidery on this dress for an eighth baby .
But , Lord , Mrs. Blythe , dearie , it is n't to blame for being the XXXXX , and I kind of wished it to have one real pretty dress , just as if it WAS wanted .
Anne Blythe Bryant Cornelia Glen Proctor day eighth first left