At times , this secret consciousness marred the delight of their comradeship ; at others it was almost forgotten ; but Anne always felt the hidden thorn was there , and might prick her at any moment . She felt a cruel sting from it on the day when she told Leslie of what she hoped the spring would bring to the little house of dreams . Leslie looked at her with hard , bitter , unfriendly eyes . `` So you are to have THAT , too , '' she said in a choked voice . And without another word she had turned and gone across the fields homeward . Anne was deeply hurt ; for the moment she felt as if she could never like Leslie again . But when Leslie came over a few evenings later she was so pleasant , so friendly , so frank , and witty , and winsome , that Anne was charmed into forgiveness and forgetfulness . Only , she never mentioned her darling hope to Leslie again ; nor did Leslie ever refer to it . But one evening , when late winter was listening for the word of spring , she came over to the little house for a twilight chat ; and when she went away she left a small , white box on the table . Anne found it after she was gone and opened it wonderingly . In it was a tiny white dress of exquisite workmanship -- delicate embroidery , wonderful tucking , sheer loveliness . Every stitch in it was handwork ; and the little frills of lace at neck and sleeves were of real Valenciennes . Lying on it was a card -- `` with Leslie 's love . '' `` What hours of work she must have put on it , '' said Anne . `` And the material must have cost more than she could really afford . It is very sweet of her . '' But Leslie was brusque and curt when Anne thanked her , and again the latter felt thrown back upon herself . Leslie 's gift was not alone in the little house . Miss Cornelia had , for the time being , given up sewing for unwanted , unwelcome eighth babies , and fallen to sewing for a very much wanted first one , whose welcome would leave nothing to be desired . Philippa Blake and Diana Wright each sent a marvellous garment ; and Mrs. Rachel Lynde sent several , in which good material and honest stitches took the place of embroidery and frills .
Anne herself made many , desecrated by no touch of machinery , spending over them the happiest XXXXX of the happy winter .
Blake Cornelia Leslie Lynde choked evening first handwork hours later