And yet here was Matthew Cuthbert , at half-past three on the afternoon of a busy day , placidly driving over the hollow and up the hill ; moreover , he wore a white collar and his best suit of clothes , which was plain proof that he was going out of Avonlea ; and he had the buggy and the sorrel mare , which betokened that he was going a considerable distance . Now , where was Matthew Cuthbert going and why was he going there ? Had it been any other man in Avonlea , Mrs. Rachel , deftly putting this and that together , might have given a pretty good guess as to both questions . But Matthew so rarely went from home that it must be something pressing and unusual which was taking him ; he was the shyest man alive and hated to have to go among strangers or to any place where he might have to talk . Matthew , dressed up with a white collar and driving in a buggy , was something that did n't happen often . Mrs. Rachel , ponder as she might , could make nothing of it and her afternoon 's enjoyment was spoiled . `` I 'll just step over to Green Gables after tea and find out from Marilla where he 's gone and why , '' the worthy woman finally concluded . `` He does n't generally go to town this time of year and he NEVER visits ; if he 'd run out of turnip seed he would n't dress up and take the buggy to go for more ; he was n't driving fast enough to be going for a doctor . Yet something must have happened since last night to start him off . I 'm clean puzzled , that 's what , and I wo n't know a minute 's peace of mind or conscience until I know what has taken Matthew Cuthbert out of Avonlea today . '' Accordingly after tea Mrs. Rachel set out ; she had not far to go ; the big , rambling , orchard-embowered house where the Cuthberts lived was a scant quarter of a mile up the road from Lynde 's Hollow . To be sure , the long lane made it a good deal further . Matthew Cuthbert 's father , as shy and silent as his son after him , had got as far away as he possibly could from his fellow men without actually retreating into the woods when he founded his homestead . Green Gables was built at the furthest edge of his cleared land and there it was to this day , barely visible from the main road along which all the other Avonlea houses were so sociably situated . Mrs. Rachel Lynde did not call living in such a place LIVING at all . `` It 's just STAYING , that 's what , '' she said as she stepped along the deep-rutted , grassy lane bordered with wild rose bushes . `` It 's no wonder Matthew and Marilla are both a little odd , living away back here by themselves . Trees are n't much company , though dear knows if they were there 'd be enough of them . I 'd ruther look at people . To be sure , they seem contented enough ; but then , I suppose , they 're used to it .
A body can get used XXXXX anything , even to being hanged , as the Irishman said . ''
along at in into of on though to up with