MatthewInsistsonPuffedSleevesMatthewwashavingabadtenminutesofit。Hehadcomeintothekitchen，inthetwilightofacold，grayDecemberevening，andhadsatdowninthewoodboxcornertotakeoffhisheavyboots，unconsciousofthefactthatAnneandabevyofherschoolmateswerehavingapracticeof\"TheFairyQueen\"inthesittingroom。
Presentlytheycametroopingthroughthehallandoutintothekitchen，laughingandchatteringgaily。TheydidnotseeMatthew，whoshrankbashfullybackintotheshadowsbeyondthewoodboxwithabootinonehandandabootjackintheother，andhewatchedthemshylyfortheaforesaidtenminutesastheyputoncapsandjacketsandtalkedaboutthedialogueandtheconcert。
Annestoodamongthem，brighteyedandanimatedasthey；
butMatthewsuddenlybecameconsciousthattherewassomethingaboutherdifferentfromhermates。AndwhatworriedMatthewwasthatthedifferenceimpressedhimasbeingsomethingthatshouldnotexist。Annehadabrighterface，andbigger，starriereyes，andmoredelicatefeaturesthantheother；evenshy，unobservantMatthewhadlearnedtotakenoteofthesethings；butthedifferencethatdisturbedhimdidnotconsistinanyoftheserespects。Theninwhatdiditconsist？
Matthewwashauntedbythisquestionlongafterthegirlshadgone，arminarm，downthelong，hard-frozenlaneandAnnehadbetakenherselftoherbooks。HecouldnotreferittoMarilla，who，hefelt，wouldbequitesuretosniffscornfullyandremarkthattheonlydifferenceshesawbetweenAnneandtheothergirlswasthattheysometimeskepttheirtonguesquietwhileAnneneverdid。