When Marilla was not at Aid meeting people knew there was something wrong at Green Gables.
"Matthew had a bad spell with his heart Thursday," Marilla explained, "and I didn't feel like leaving him.

Oh, yes, he's all right again now, but he takes them spells oftener than he used to and I'm anxious about him.

The doctor says he must be careful to avoid excitement.

That's easy enough, for Matthew doesn't go about looking for excitement by any means and never did, but he's not to do any very heavy work either and you might as well tell Matthew not to breathe as not to work.

Come and lay off your things, Rachel.