`` Matthew went to Bright River . We 're getting a little boy from an orphan asylum in Nova Scotia and he 's coming on the train tonight . '' If Marilla had said that Matthew had gone to Bright River to meet a kangaroo from Australia Mrs. Rachel could not have been more astonished . She was actually stricken dumb for five seconds . It was unsupposable that Marilla was making fun of her , but Mrs. Rachel was almost forced to suppose it . `` Are you in earnest , Marilla ? '' she demanded when voice returned to her . `` Yes , of course , '' said Marilla , as if getting boys from orphan asylums in Nova Scotia were part of the usual spring work on any well-regulated Avonlea farm instead of being an unheard of innovation . Mrs. Rachel felt that she had received a severe mental jolt . She thought in exclamation points . A boy ! Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of all people adopting a boy ! From an orphan asylum ! Well , the world was certainly turning upside down ! She would be surprised at nothing after this ! Nothing ! `` What on earth put such a notion into your head ? '' she demanded disapprovingly . This had been done without her advice being asked , and must perforce be disapproved . `` Well , we 've been thinking about it for some time -- all winter in fact , '' returned Marilla .
`` Mrs. Alexander Spencer was up here one day before Christmas and she said she was going to get a little girl XXXXX the asylum over in Hopeton in the spring .
If about for from in into of on that to