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
Chapter 2 The Orphan Is a Girl Matthew Cuthbert and his horse trotted comfortably over the eight miles to Bright River The air was sweet with the scent of apple orchards Matthew enjoyed the ride except when he met women and had to nod to them For in Prince Edward Island you are supposed to nod to all you meet on the road whether you know them or not Matthew dreaded all women except Marilla and Mrs Rachel He had an uncomfortable feeling that they were all secretly laughing at him He may have been quite right in thinking so for he was an odd-looking man He had long gray hair that touched his stooping shoulders His beard was full and soft brown 12
When he reached Bright River there was no sign of any train He thought he was early so he tied his horse in the yard of the Bright River Hotel He walked over to the station house The long platform was almost deserted The only living creature in sight was a girl who was sitting on a pile of shingles Matthew barely noting that it was a girl walked past her as quickly as possible He saw the stationmaster locking up the ticket offi ce and asked him if the fi ve-thirty train would soon be along The fi ve-thirty train has been in and left half an hour ago answered the man But there was a passenger dropped off for you A little girl She’s sitting out there on the shingles I’m not expecting a girl said Matthew quickly It’s a boy I’ve come for Mrs Alexander Spencer was to bring him over from Nova Scotia The stationmaster whistled Guess there’s some mistake Mrs Spencer came off the train 13
