This Job s comforting seemed neither to offend nor to alarm Marilla. She
knitted steadily on.
I don t deny there s something in what you say, Rachel. I ve had some
qualms myself. But Matthew was terrible set on it. I could see that, so
I gave in. It s so seldom Matthew sets his mind on anything that when he
does I always feel it s my duty to give in. And as for the risk, there s
risks in pretty near everything a body does in this world. There s risks
in people s having children of their own if it comes to that--they don t
always turn out well. And then Nova Scotia is right close to the Island.
It isn t as if we were getting him from England or the States. He can t
be much different from ourselves.
Well, I hope it will turn out all right, said Mrs. Rachel in a tone
that plainly indicated her painful doubts. Only don t say I didn t
warn you if he burns Green Gables down or puts strychnine in the well--I
heard of a case over in New Brunswick where an orphan asylum child did
that and the whole family died in fearful agonies. Only, it was a girl
in that instance.
Well, we re not getting a girl, said Marilla, as if poisoning wells
were a purely feminine accomplishment and not to be dreaded in the case
of a boy. I d never dream of taking a girl to bring up. I wonder at
Mrs. Alexander Spencer for doing it. But there, _she_ wouldn t shrink
from adopting a whole orphan asylum if she took it into her head.
Mrs. Rachel would have liked to stay until Matthew came home with his
imported orphan. But reflecting that it would be a good two hours at
least before his arrival she concluded to go up the road to Robert
Bell s and tell the news. It would certainly make a sensation second
to none, and Mrs. Rachel dearly loved to make a sensation. So she took
herself away, somewhat to Marilla s relief, for the latter felt
her doubts and fears reviving under the influence of Mrs. Rachel s
pessimism.
Well, of all things that ever were or will be! ejaculated 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 one and no mistake.
Matthew and Marilla don t know anything about children and they ll
expect him to be wiser and steadier than his own grandfather, if so be s
8