`` It is n't true surely , Anne ? '' exclaimed Gilbert . `` It is true , '' answered Anne , looking like the muse of tragedy . `` Mrs. Lynde called on her way from Carmody to tell me . Oh , it is simply dreadful ! What is the use of trying to improve anything ? '' `` What is dreadful ? '' asked Oliver Sloane , arriving at this moment with a bandbox he had brought from town for Marilla . `` Have n't you heard ? '' said Jane wrathfully . `` Well , its simply this ... Joshua Pye has gone and painted the hall blue instead of green ... a deep , brilliant blue , the shade they use for painting carts and wheelbarrows . And Mrs. Lynde says it is the most hideous color for a building , especially when combined with a red roof , that she ever saw or imagined . You could simply have knocked me down with a feather when I heard it . It 's heartbreaking , after all the trouble we 've had . '' `` How on earth could such a mistake have happened ? '' wailed Diana . The blame of this unmerciful disaster was eventually narrowed down to the Pyes . The Improvers had decided to use Morton-Harris paints and the Morton-Harris paint cans were numbered according to a color card . A purchaser chose his shade on the card and ordered by the accompanying number . Number 147 was the shade of green desired and when Mr. Roger Pye sent word to the Improvers by his son , John Andrew , that he was going to town and would get their paint for them , the Improvers told John Andrew to tell his father to get 147 .
John Andrew always averred that he did so , but Mr. Roger Pye as stanchly declared that John Andrew told him 157 ; and there the matter stands XXXXX this day .
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