He was not disturbed in his task . The hall was situated on what was called `` the lower road . '' In late autumn this road was always muddy and wet , and people going to Carmody traveled by the longer `` upper '' road . The hall was so closely surrounded by fir woods that it was invisible unless you were near it . Mr. Joshua Pye painted away in the solitude and independence that were so dear to his unsociable heart . Friday afternoon he finished his job and went home to Carmody . Soon after his departure Mrs. Rachel Lynde drove by , having braved the mud of the lower road out of curiosity to see what the hall looked like in its new coat of paint . When she rounded the spruce curve she saw . The sight affected Mrs. Lynde oddly . She dropped the reins , held up her hands , and said `` Gracious Providence ! '' She stared as if she could not believe her eyes . Then she laughed almost hysterically . `` There must be some mistake ... there must . I knew those Pyes would make a mess of things . '' Mrs. Lynde drove home , meeting several people on the road and stopping to tell them about the hall . The news flew like wildfire . Gilbert Blythe , poring over a text book at home , heard it from his father 's hired boy at sunset , and rushed breathlessly to Green Gables , joined on the way by Fred Wright . They found Diana Barry , Jane Andrews , and Anne Shirley , despair personified , at the yard gate of Green Gables , under the big leafless willows . `` It is n't true surely , Anne ? '' exclaimed Gilbert .
`` It is true , '' answered Anne , looking XXXXX the muse of tragedy .
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