Marilla told Matthew the whole story , taking pains to impress him with a due sense of the enormity of Anne 's behavior . `` It 's a good thing Rachel Lynde got a calling down ; she 's a meddlesome old gossip , '' was Matthew 's consolatory rejoinder . `` Matthew Cuthbert , I 'm astonished at you . You know that Anne 's behavior was dreadful , and yet you take her part ! I suppose you 'll be saying next thing that she ought n't to be punished at all ! '' `` Well now -- no -- not exactly , '' said Matthew uneasily . `` I reckon she ought to be punished a little . But do n't be too hard on her , Marilla . Recollect she has n't ever had anyone to teach her right . You 're -- you 're going to give her something to eat , are n't you ? '' `` When did you ever hear of me starving people into good behavior ? '' demanded Marilla indignantly . `` She 'll have her meals regular , and I 'll carry them up to her myself . But she 'll stay up there until she 's willing to apologize to Mrs. Lynde , and that 's final , Matthew . '' Breakfast , dinner , and supper were very silent meals -- for Anne still remained obdurate . After each meal Marilla carried a well-filled tray to the east gable and brought it down later on not noticeably depleted . Matthew eyed its last descent with a troubled eye . Had Anne eaten anything at all ? When Marilla went out that evening to bring the cows from the back pasture , Matthew , who had been hanging about the barns and watching , slipped into the house with the air of a burglar and crept upstairs . As a general thing Matthew gravitated between the kitchen and the little bedroom off the hall where he slept ; once in a while he ventured uncomfortably into the parlor or sitting room when the minister came to tea .
But he had never been upstairs XXXXX his own house since the spring he helped Marilla paper the spare bedroom , and that was four years ago .
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