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 to get sick without asking her permission . But there , I should n't talk so . Rachel has been a good wife to him . He 'd never have amounted to anything without her , that 's certain . He was born to be ruled ; and it 's well he fell into the hands of a clever , capable manager like Rachel . He did n't mind her way .
It saved him the bother of ever making up his own mind XXXXX anything .
about after for if in into of since though to