Afterwards he had slipped noiselessly away and gone home , and nobody noticed his going . They were all gayly busy recalling what had happened in the old times and telling what had happened in the new . Edith recounted the successes of her concert tours ; Malcolm expatiated proudly on his plans for developing his beloved college ; Ralph described the country through which his new railroad ran , and the difficulties he had had to overcome in connection with it . James , aside , discussed his orchard and his crops with Margaret , who had not been long enough away from the farm to lose touch with its interests . Aunt Isabel knitted and smiled complacently on all , talking now with one , now with the other , secretly quite proud of herself that she , an old woman of eighty-five , who had seldom been out of White Sands in her life , could discuss high finance with Ralph , and higher education with Malcolm , and hold her own with James in an argument on drainage . The White Sands school teacher , an arch-eyed , red-mouthed bit a girl -- a Bell from Avonlea -- who boarded with the James Monroes , amused herself with the boys . All were enjoying themselves hugely , so it is not to be wondered at that they did not miss Robert , who had gone home early because his old housekeeper was nervous if left alone at night . He came again the next afternoon . From James , in the barnyard , he learned that Malcolm and Ralph had driven to the harbor , that Margaret and Mrs. James had gone to call on friends in Avonlea , and that Edith was walking somewhere in the woods on the hill . There was nobody in the house except Aunt Isabel and the teacher . `` You 'd better wait and stay the evening , '' said James , indifferently . `` They 'll all be back soon . '' Robert went across the yard and sat down on the rustic bench in the angle of the front porch . It was a fine December evening , as mild as autumn ; there had been no snow , and the long fields , sloping down from the homestead , were brown and mellow . A weird , dreamy stillness had fallen upon the purple earth , the windless woods , the rain of the valleys , the sere meadows . Nature seemed to have folded satisfied hands to rest , knowing that her long , wintry slumber was coming upon her . Out to sea , a dull , red sunset faded out into somber clouds , and the ceaseless voice of many waters came up from the tawny shore . Robert rested his chin on his hand and looked across the vales and hills , where the feathery gray of leafless hardwoods was mingled with the sturdy , unfailing green of the conebearers . He was a tall , bent man , with thin , gray hair , a lined face , and deeply-set , gentle brown eyes -- the eyes of one who , looking through pain , sees rapture beyond . He felt very happy .
He loved his family clannishly , and he was rejoiced XXXXX they were all again near to him .
across beyond from of on that through to upon with