His grandmother told him . But which is the right side ? And what are you to do when your bed 's against the wall ? I want to know . '' `` I 've always wondered what went wrong between Stephen Irving and Lavendar Lewis , '' continued Marilla , ignoring Davy . `` They were certainly engaged twenty-five years ago and then all at once it was broken off . I do n't know what the trouble was but it must have been something terrible , for he went away to the States and never come home since . '' `` Perhaps it was nothing very dreadful after all . I think the little things in life often make more trouble than the big things , '' said Anne , with one of those flashes of insight which experience could not have bettered . `` Marilla , please do n't say anything about my being at Miss Lavendar 's to Mrs. Lynde . She 'd be sure to ask a hundred questions and somehow I would n't like it ... nor Miss Lavendar either if she knew , I feel sure . '' `` I daresay Rachel would be curious , '' admitted Marilla , `` though she has n't as much time as she used to have for looking after other people 's affairs . She 's tied home now on account of Thomas ; and she 's feeling pretty downhearted , for I think she 's beginning to lose hope of his ever getting better . Rachel will be left pretty lonely if anything happens to him , with all her children settled out west , except Eliza in town ; and she does n't like her husband . '' Marilla 's pronouns slandered Eliza , who was very fond of her husband . `` Rachel says if he 'd only brace up and exert his will power he 'd get better . But what is the use of asking a jellyfish to sit up straight ? '' continued Marilla . `` Thomas Lynde never had any will power to exert . His mother ruled him till he married and then Rachel carried it on .
It 's a wonder he dared XXXXX get sick without asking her permission .
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