Chapter 2 Chapter 1 Mrs. Linde's doubts

Chapter 1 Mrs. Lynde's Doubts Rachel Lynde's house is in a small depression along the street in the village of Abangli.Surrounded by top trees and wild flowers and plants, walking inside is the old farm of the Cuthbart family. The small river flowing from the woods behind the farm crosses this small depression. The upper stream of the small river is swift, winding and converging from the woods, forming many little-known abysses and small waterfalls.However, when the river went through all the twists and turns and flowed in front of Linde's house, it had already turned into a quiet and obedient river.

Perhaps because of passing through the door of Rachel Linde's house, even the naughty Xiaohe dared not make any noise at all.Rachel Lind often sat by the window, monitoring the outside world.From the small river to the children, as long as they pass by her eyes, she will not miss any one. If she witnesses something strange, she will stay there until the truth is revealed. Maybe even Xiao He knows about this temper. Most of the people in Yabangli have a warm heart to help others.And Mrs. Linde not only possesses this virtue, but also does her own affairs quite well.When it comes to housework, she can be said to be handy, organized and neat.Not to mention that she directed a tailor's squad and assisted with the Sunday-school.In addition, she is one of the most effective leaders of the church women's group and the foreign missionary mutual aid society.

It is especially worth mentioning that Mrs. Lynde could sit for hours at the kitchen window, watching the street across the hollow, which led to the steep red hill; Sewn thread to make kapok quilt.The most time, I made 16 quilts in one go.Therefore, Mrs. Linde had a high reputation among the housewives of Abangli Village. Abangli Village is located on a small triangular peninsula jutting into St. Lawrence Bay, surrounded by the sea on three sides, so people have to pass through the streets on the hills to get in and out.In other words, no one could escape Mrs. Linde's keen eyes. One afternoon in early June, Mrs. Linde sat by the window as usual.The warm sunlight shines in from the window, making it very bright.In the orchard on the slope below Lynd's house, pale pink flowers bloomed.Accompanied by the sound of "buzzing, buzzing" wings, the bees are flying up and down in the flowers in groups.Thomas Lynd, a short, honest man ("Rachel Lynd's venerable shopkeeper" as people in Albany called him) was planting late-sowed turnips on the hill across from the barn .

Rachel Lind guessed that at this very moment, Marshall Cuthbart must be doing the same work in the green gable-roofed wide red soil beside the river.For she had heard Marshall tell Pete Morrison, at William Briar's shop in Carmody, the evening before, that he was going to plant turnips the next afternoon.Marshall Cuthbart was a person who would never initiate a conversation with someone stronger than himself, so of course he answered Peter's question. What is the reason?It stands to reason that around 3:30 in the afternoon is when people are busy.But Marshall Cuthbart was taking his time down the hollow instead of over the hill?Judging from the top-notch dress with a white collar on his body, he must have something to leave Yabanli Village, and he is still driving a carriage, which is sure to go to a far, far place.Where is Marshall Cuthbart going?What are you going to do?

If it was someone else, Rachel would easily come up with the correct answer as long as she turned her head a little. And when Marshall went out, there must be quite urgent things to do.Marshall was an introvert who hated meeting strangers or going somewhere where he had to talk.Therefore, in Mrs. Linde's view, he was wearing a white-collared dress and driving a carriage for a long trip today, as if the sun had come out from the west. Rachel Lind racked her brains and thought hard, but she couldn't get the point.The mood that has finally improved since the afternoon has turned into a mess again.

"After drinking tea, I'll go to Green Gaybruzzi. It seems that this matter will get to the bottom of it. I have to ask Marilla." The strong woman made up her mind and nodded silently. "There is no one going to town at this time, and there is no way that Marshall can go to anyone's house. If there is not enough turnip seeds, why wear a frock coat and make up for it, and go in a carriage? If you go to the doctor , why are you so unhurried and calm? So something must have happened between last night and today, but I don't know at all. If I don't find out what happened, I won't be safe for a moment !Ugh."

For this matter, after drinking tea in the afternoon, Rachel Lind went out.It wasn't too far from Green Gybrutz, where the Cuthbarts lived, a particularly spacious house nestled in an orchard just a quarter of a mile from the Lynds' hollow.Because the house is too far from the street, another long path leading directly to the house door had to be opened. Marshall Cuthbart's father was an honest man who was even more shy and introverted than his son.When the farm was cultivated back then, although I could not live in seclusion in the woods, I chose this secluded place away from neighbors as much as possible and built my own nest.Glenn Gybrutz was at the farthest point of the reclamation.You can't even see it from the row upon row of residential streets in Albany. In the words of Rachel Lind, living in such a place is not life at all.

"Well, living in this kind of place can only be regarded as living, really." Mrs. Linde walked along the potholed path covered with wild roses on both sides, and muttered as she walked, "If you stay behind closed doors like this, don't you? Xie and Marilla must become weird people. No matter how many trees there are, they can’t chat with people. Indeed, there are many trees here, but I think people are better than trees. Although these two people seem to live very Satisfied, it's just getting used to it. It's like the Irishman who strangles his neck and doesn't care.Man, it's amazing that you can adapt to anything! "

As soon as she muttered here, Mrs. Linde had already walked into the backyard of Green Gablebrush from the path.The yard is lush green and tidy.Willows are planted on one side, and straight poplars stand on the other side.The ground was so clean that not even a gravel or a branch could be found.If there is, naturally it cannot escape Mrs. Linde's sharp eyes.She guessed that Marilla Cuthbart must have been in and out of this yard frequently, and even if she put the food on the ground to eat, she would not pick out a single grain of sand. Rachel Linde knocked hard on the kitchen door, and walked in with a "please come in".Glenn Gybrutz's kitchen was so clean that it was like a brand new living room, giving people a feeling of indifference and alienation.It might have been a more interesting room if it hadn't been so clean.

There are windows on the east and west sides of the room.From the west window facing the backyard, there is a warm sunshine in June. The east window is covered with ivy, and white cherry blossoms are blooming in the orchard on the left.The leaves of the birch trees that grew in the hollows by the creek swayed lightly in the wind. Born industrious, Marilla often likes to sit by the ivy-covered east window and bask in the sun.Sure enough, Marilla sat there as usual today, knitting while bathing in the sunset.The snacks that have already been prepared are placed on the table inside. When Mrs. Linde closed the door casually, she glanced at the table and saw three plates on it.Obviously, it was Marshall who was bringing someone.However, the dishes contained some ordinary snacks, including preserved fruit, wild apples, and a kind of water snack.It seems that the guests will not be any special guests.So, what about Marshall's white-collared dress and carriage?Green Gybrutz, who is usually calm and not so mysterious, what happened today?

Rachel Lind rolled her eyes in puzzlement. "Good evening, Rachel," Marilla greeted cheerfully. "I'm in a good mood today! Did I borrow your light? How is everyone in the house?" Marilla and Rachel are two different types of people.But maybe they have opposite personalities, but it is easier to get along with each other. The two have maintained a relationship close to friendship since a long time ago. Marilla was tall and thin, with her mottled hair tied in a bun and pinned back with two hairpins. It shows a taste of inexperience and rigidity in everything.In fact, it was true, thanks to the humorous expression on her mouth that saved her. "Thanks to you, thank you." Mrs. Linde said, "I brought up the topic, and I am also very concerned about the situation of the family. Just now I saw Marshall go out, is someone sick and needs a doctor? " The corner of Marilla's mouth twitched unconsciously, but she didn't expect that Rachel really came. "No wow, I've been fine, I just had a headache yesterday," Marilla said. "He's gone to Brett Riba. We're going to adopt a boy from the orphanage in Nova Scotia, The boy is coming by train tonight." Mrs Lynde would not have been so surprised to hear that Marshall was welcoming kangaroos from Australia. She stood there in a daze for a long time without saying a word.She was not even aware that Marilla was looking at her, she was only thinking about it. "Is it true, Marilla?" Rachel Lind asked hastily as soon as she regained her composure. "Of course it's true," Marilla replied. "It's just a boy adopted from an orphanage in Nova Scotia. No fuss. It's almost as common as working on a farm every year." ?" Mrs. Linde was quite surprised, and the words that came to her mind were all marked with exclamation points.boy!And it was Marilla and Marshall who adopted a boy!Adopted from an orphanage!She thought to herself, "This world is completely turned upside down! I don't know what will happen in the future, so I have to be prepared. Oh, really!" "How could you two have such a whimsical idea?" Mrs. Linde reproached.She thought to herself, "Marila and the others don't decide to adopt orphans without discussing with themselves, and it is only right for me to blame them." "How is it whimsical? We have been thinking about this for a long time, in the winter time. A few days before Christmas, when Alexander Swensa's wife came to our house as a guest, she said: About to adopt a girl in the spring from Hopden's orphanage, where she had been many times and lived, she knew everything about it. "Since then, Marshall and I have discussed several times, and we always want to adopt a boy. My brother is already 60 years old, and the spirit he used to have has long since disappeared, and his heart is not very good. And these days, I want to adopt a boy. It's hard to find a good person, and the hired ones are all idiots. After a while, I found a few little French boys who looked like vinegar, but who knows, when they got used to the work, they stopped doing it at once. , Either went to the cannery, or ran to the United States. "At the beginning, Marshall advocated adopting one from an orphanage in England, and I firmly opposed it. But he said that there are good children in Britain, and it cannot be said that none of them are good. If there are good street children in London, he will Adopt one. However, when it comes to adoption, no matter what it is, it makes people feel a little uneasy, but the temperament of an orphan born in Canada can be understood, and it can make people fall asleep at night with peace of mind. "In the end, when Mrs. Swensa adopted a girl, we also asked her to find one, which led to the above remarks. We hope to find a boy who is about ten years old, smart, and more suitable. The age is not so good, as long as Able to do some simple work right away, and it's not too late for formal education later on. We intend to raise him well and send him to school. "The postman brought a telegram today from Mrs. Sventhar, saying she'll be arriving by the five-thirty train this afternoon. So Marshall went to Brett Riba to pick up the bus and make an appointment to get off there.From there, of course, Madame went back to White Sound Station. " Rachel Lind always said what she wanted to say.After finally figuring out what happened, she said bluntly and unceremoniously: "Marilla, to be clear, I think this matter is too dangerous, too dangerous. It is impossible to predict the gentle What kind of child will Mrs. Sa bring? Just bring a child of unknown origin here. What kind of character is he, what kind of parents are he like, and how did he grow up? I don’t know at all. . "Just last week, there was a story in the papers that a couple on the west side of the island had adopted a boy from an orphanage. But the boy set fire in the middle of the night, and on purpose. My God, on purpose! The couple almost A little bit was burned to death in sleep. In addition, all adopted children have the bad habit of drinking raw eggs, and they can’t be changed. If you discuss it with me... well, even if you don’t discuss it, I will resolutely stop it thing!" After hearing Rachel's words, Marilla felt even more uncertain, and stopped working. "Rachel, what you said makes sense. I'm not sure about everything, but Marshall wants to adopt anyway. For this matter, he's been preoccupied all day long. Seeing his uncomfortable appearance, I always feel that He should be helped to realize his long-cherished wish. "Besides, although there is danger, what is there that is not dangerous? If you say that, even your own children are in danger. Not every child has received formal education." "Then, I hope things work out well," said Mrs. Lynde incredulously. "Who knows if he's going to burn Green Gybruzz to the ground? Maybe he'll go down the well." Poison. I heard that in New Brunswick, a child from an adopted orphanage poured poison into a well, and the whole family died in pain, and it seems that a girl did it." "But my family doesn't adopt girls." From Marilla's point of view, poisoning and killing are only female-specific behaviors, and boys don't have to worry about doing such things. "Adopting a girl, we never even dreamed about it, I don't know what Alexander Swensa planned. A person like her might take over the entire orphanage on a whim. " Mrs. Lynde had intended to wait until Marshall returned with the orphan, but it turned out to be a full two hours' wait.It occurred to her that it would be more interesting to go to Robert Bell's and gossip about it than to wait until they came back.This news will definitely cause a big sensation.Rachel usually likes to make some kind of sensational effect to have fun.So Rachel Lind got up and said goodbye.Marilla breathed a sigh of relief.Looking back and savoring what Mrs. Linde said just now, a feeling of uneasiness came to my heart again. "It's unbelievable!" Mrs. Lynde blurted out as soon as she stepped out of the door and stepped into the path. "They are not dreaming, and they say they are very sympathetic to the child. Oh, Marshall and Marilla are very concerned about the upbringing of children." I don’t know anything about it, and it’s doubtful whether the child needs them. With these two people alone, it’s not sure that the child will have anything in the future. Absolutely! How awful it must have been! Marshall and Marilla had grown up when the house was built, and it was impossible to imagine that they had ever had a childhood, and it was impossible to believe that, in their upbringing, The kid's going to get better, I'll bet. Poor thing!" The kind Mrs. Linde told Briar.