She went to see Mrs. Keith this evening and she will soon be back . '' Anne had tea ready when Marilla came home ; the fire was crackling cheerily , a vase of frost-bleached ferns and ruby-red maple leaves adorned the table , and delectable odors of ham and toast pervaded the air . But Marilla sank into her chair with a deep sigh . `` Are your eyes troubling you ? Does your head ache ? '' queried Anne anxiously . `` No . I 'm only tired ... and worried . It 's about Mary and those children ... Mary is worse ... she ca n't last much longer . And as for the twins , I do n't know what is to become of them . '' `` Has n't their uncle been heard from ? '' `` Yes , Mary had a letter from him . He 's working in a lumber camp and ` shacking it , ' whatever that means . Anyway , he says he ca n't possibly take the children till the spring . He expects to be married then and will have a home to take them to ; but he says she must get some of the neighbors to keep them for the winter . She says she ca n't bear to ask any of them . Mary never got on any too well with the East Grafton people and that 's a fact . And the long and short of it is , Anne , that I 'm sure Mary wants me to take those children ... she did n't say so but she LOOKED it . '' `` Oh ! '' Anne clasped her hands , all athrill with excitement .
`` And of course you will , XXXXX , wo n't you ? ''
Anne Grafton Marilla Mary athrill evening eyes fire neighbors vase