If Marilla had said that Matthew had gone to Bright River to meet a kangaroo from Australia Mrs Rachel could not have been more surprised She was actually speechless for fi ve seconds Are you speaking the truth Marilla she demanded when her voice returned to her Yes of course said Marilla as if getting boys from orphanages in Nova Scotia were an everyday happening Mrs Rachel was shocked A boy Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of all people adopting a boy From an orphanage She would be surprised at nothing after this Nothing What on earth put such a notion into your head she demanded Well we’ve been thinking about it for some time All winter in fact said Marilla Mrs Alexander Spencer was up here one day before Christmas She said she was going to get a little girl in the spring So Matthew and I have talked 8
it over off and on ever since We thought we’d get a boy Matthew is getting up in years He’s sixty He isn’t as quick as he once was His heart troubles him a good deal Marilla continued So we decided to ask Mrs Spencer to pick us out a child when she went over to get her girl We decided that ten or eleven would be the best age Old enough to be of some use in doing chores right off and young enough to be trained properly We’ll give him a good home and schooling We had a telegram from Mrs Alexander Spencer today saying they were coming on the fi ve-thirty train tonight So Matthew went to Bright River to meet him Mrs Rachel prided herself on always speaking her mind Well Marilla I think you’re doing a mighty foolish thing You’re bringing a strange child into your house You don’t know a single thing about him I don’t deny there’s something in what you say Rachel I’ve had some qualms myself But 9
Matthew was set on it It’s so seldom Matthew sets his mind on anything When he does I always feel it’s my duty to give in Well I hope it will turn out all right said Mrs Rachel in a tone that plainly indicated her doubts Only don’t say I didn’t warn you if he burns Green Gables down I heard about that once except it was a girl who did the burning Well we’re not getting a girl said Marilla I’d never dream of taking a girl to bring up Mrs Rachel would have to stay until Matthew came home with the boy But knowing that it would be a good two hours at least before his arrival she decided to go up the road to spread the news It would certainly make a sensation And Mrs Rachel dearly loved to make a sensation Well of all things that ever were or will be thought Mrs Rachel when she was safely out in the lane It does really seem as if I must be dreaming Well I’m sorry for that poor young 10
one and make no mistake Matthew and Marilla don’t know anything about children In town Mrs Rachel spoke to anyone who would listen It seems uncanny to think of a child at Green Gables There’s never been one there Matthew and Marilla were grown up when the new house was built It’s hard to believe they were ever children when one looks at them I wouldn’t be in that orphan’s shoes for anything My but I pity him that’s what But if she could have seen the child who was waiting patiently at the Bright River station at that very moment her pity would have been deeper and more profound 11
