Not that Matthew complained , to be sure ; he listened to it all with a wordless smile of enjoyment on his face ; Marilla permitted the `` chatter '' until she found herself becoming too interested in it , whereupon she always promptly quenched Anne by a curt command to hold her tongue . Anne was out in the orchard when Mrs. Rachel came , wandering at her own sweet will through the lush , tremulous grasses splashed with ruddy evening sunshine ; so that good lady had an excellent chance to talk her illness fully over , describing every ache and pulse beat with such evident enjoyment that Marilla thought even grippe must bring its compensations . When details were exhausted Mrs. Rachel introduced the real reason of her call . `` I 've been hearing some surprising things about you and Matthew . '' `` I do n't suppose you are any more surprised than I am myself , '' said Marilla . `` I 'm getting over my surprise now . '' `` It was too bad there was such a mistake , '' said Mrs. Rachel sympathetically . `` Could n't you have sent her back ? '' `` I suppose we could , but we decided not to . Matthew took a fancy to her . And I must say I like her myself -- although I admit she has her faults . The house seems a different place already . She 's a real bright little thing . '' Marilla said more than she had intended to say when she began , for she read disapproval in Mrs. Rachel 's expression . `` It 's a great responsibility you 've taken on yourself , '' said that lady gloomily , `` especially when you 've never had any experience with children . You do n't know much about her or her real disposition , I suppose , and there 's no guessing how a child like that will turn out . But I do n't want to discourage you I 'm sure , Marilla . '' `` I 'm not feeling discouraged , '' was Marilla 's dry response , `` when I make up my mind to do a thing it stays made up . I suppose you 'd like to see Anne . I 'll call her in . ''
Anne came running XXXXX presently , her face sparkling with the delight of her orchard rovings ; but , abashed at finding the delight herself in the unexpected presence of a stranger , she halted confusedly inside the door .
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