I got Mrs. Allan to help me pick it in town last week , and we 'll get Emily Gillis to make it for you . Emily has got taste , and her fits are n't to be equaled . '' `` Oh , Marilla , it 's just lovely , '' said Anne . `` Thank you so much . I do n't believe you ought to be so kind to me -- it 's making it harder every day for me to go away . '' The green dress was made up with as many tucks and frills and shirrings as Emily 's taste permitted . Anne put it on one evening for Matthew 's and Marilla 's benefit , and recited `` The Maiden 's Vow '' for them in the kitchen . As Marilla watched the bright , animated face and graceful motions her thoughts went back to the evening Anne had arrived at Green Gables , and memory recalled a vivid picture of the odd , frightened child in her preposterous yellowish-brown wincey dress , the heartbreak looking out of her tearful eyes . Something in the memory brought tears to Marilla 's own eyes . `` I declare , my recitation has made you cry , Marilla , '' said Anne gaily stooping over Marilla 's chair to drop a butterfly kiss on that lady 's cheek . `` Now , I call that a positive triumph . '' `` No , I was n't crying over your piece , '' said Marilla , who would have scorned to be betrayed into such weakness by any poetry stuff . `` I just could n't help thinking of the little girl you used to be , Anne . And I was wishing you could have stayed a little girl , even with all your queer ways . You 've grown up now and you 're going away ; and you look so tall and stylish and so -- so -- different altogether in that dress -- as if you did n't belong in Avonlea at all -- and I just got lonesome thinking it all over . '' `` Marilla ! '' Anne sat down on Marilla 's gingham lap , took Marilla 's lined face between her hands , and looked gravely and tenderly into Marilla 's eyes . `` I 'm not a bit changed -- not really . I 'm only just pruned down and branched out . The real ME -- back here -- is just the same .
It wo n't make a bit of difference where I go or how much I change outwardly ; XXXXX heart I shall always be your little Anne , who will love you and Matthew and dear Green Gables more and better every day of her life . ''
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