Anne was one of the children of light by birthright . After she had passed through a life with a smile or a word thrown across it like a gleam of sunshine the owner of that life saw it , for the time being at least , as hopeful and lovely and of good report . Finally Gilbert rose regretfully . `` Well , I must run up to MacPhersons ' . Moody Spurgeon came home from Queen 's today for Sunday and he was to bring me out a book Professor Boyd is lending me . '' `` And I must get Marilla 's tea . 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 XXXXX the winter .
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