And I know another case where an adopted boy used to suck the eggs -- they could n't break him of it . If you had asked my advice in the matter -- which you did n't do , Marilla -- I 'd have said for mercy 's sake not to think of such a thing , that 's what . '' This Job 's comforting seemed neither to offend nor to alarm Marilla . She knitted steadily on . `` I do n't deny there 's something in what you say , Rachel . I 've had some qualms myself . But Matthew was terrible set on it . I could see that , so I gave in . It 's so seldom Matthew sets his mind on anything that when he does I always feel it 's my duty to give in . And as for the risk , there 's risks in pretty near everything a body does in this world . There 's risks in people 's having children of their own if it comes to that -- they do n't always turn out well . And then Nova Scotia is right close to the Island . It is n't as if we were getting him from England or the States . He ca n't be much different from ourselves . '' `` Well , I hope it will turn out all right , '' said Mrs. Rachel in a tone that plainly indicated her painful doubts . `` Only do n't say I did n't warn you if he burns Green Gables down or puts strychnine in the well -- I heard of a case over in New Brunswick where an orphan asylum child did that and the whole family died in fearful agonies . Only , it was a girl in that instance . '' `` Well , we 're not getting a girl , '' said Marilla , as if poisoning wells were a purely feminine accomplishment and not to be dreaded in the case of a boy . `` I 'd never dream of taking a girl to bring up . I wonder at Mrs. Alexander Spencer for doing it .
But there , SHE would n't shrink XXXXX adopting a whole orphan asylum if she took it into her head . ''
If down for from in of on so that to