It was Marilla who spoke , alarm in every jerky word . Anne came through the hall , her hands full of white narcissus , -- it was long before Anne could love the sight or odor of white narcissus again , -- in time to hear her and to see Matthew standing in the porch doorway , a folded paper in his hand , and his face strangely drawn and gray . Anne dropped her flowers and sprang across the kitchen to him at the same moment as Marilla . They were both too late ; before they could reach him Matthew had fallen across the threshold . `` He 's fainted , '' gasped Marilla . `` Anne , run for Martin -- quick , quick ! He 's at the barn . '' Martin , the hired man , who had just driven home from the post office , started at once for the doctor , calling at Orchard Slope on his way to send Mr. and Mrs. Barry over . Mrs. Lynde , who was there on an errand , came too . They found Anne and Marilla distractedly trying to restore Matthew to consciousness . Mrs. Lynde pushed them gently aside , tried his pulse , and then laid her ear over his heart . She looked at their anxious faces sorrowfully and the tears came into her eyes . `` Oh , Marilla , '' she said gravely . `` I do n't think -- we can do anything for him . '' `` Mrs. Lynde , you do n't think -- you ca n't think Matthew is -- is -- '' Anne could not say the dreadful word ; she turned sick and pallid . `` Child , yes , I 'm afraid of it . Look at his face . When you 've seen that look as often as I have you 'll know what it means . '' Anne looked at the still face and there beheld the seal of the Great Presence . When the doctor came he said that death had been instantaneous and probably painless , caused in all likelihood by some sudden shock .
The secret of the shock was discovered to be XXXXX the paper Matthew had held and which Martin had brought from the office that morning .
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