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 hours of the happy winter . Captain Jim was the most frequent guest of the little house , and none was more welcome . Every day Anne loved the simple-souled , true-hearted old sailor more and more . He was as refreshing as a sea breeze , as interesting as some ancient chronicle . She was never tired of listening to his stories , and his quaint remarks and comments were a continual delight to her . Captain Jim was one of those rare and interesting people who `` never speak but they say something . '' The milk of human kindness and the wisdom of the serpent were mingled in his composition in delightful proportions . Nothing ever seemed to put Captain Jim out or depress him in any way . `` I 've kind of contracted a habit of enj ` ying things , '' he remarked once , when Anne had commented on his invariable cheerfulness .
`` It 's got so chronic that I believe I even enj ' y the disagreeable XXXXX .
Miss comments loveliness milk proportions sailor stories things time workmanship