His wife was a tender , patient , unwearied nurse . Sometimes Rachel had been a little hard on her Thomas in health , when his slowness or meekness had provoked her ; but when he became ill no voice could be lower , no hand more gently skillful , no vigil more uncomplaining . `` You 've been a good wife to me , Rachel , '' he once said simply , when she was sitting by him in the dusk , holding his thin , blanched old hand in her work-hardened one . `` A good wife . I 'm sorry I ai n't leaving you better off ; but the children will look after you . They 're all smart , capable children , just like their mother . A good mother ... a good woman ... . '' He had fallen asleep then , and the next morning , just as the white dawn was creeping up over the pointed firs in the hollow , Marilla went softly into the east gable and wakened Anne . `` Anne , Thomas Lynde is gone ... their hired boy just brought the word . I 'm going right down to Rachel . '' On the day after Thomas Lynde 's funeral Marilla went about Green Gables with a strangely preoccupied air . Occasionally she looked at Anne , seemed on the point of saying something , then shook her head and buttoned up her mouth . After tea she went down to see Mrs. Rachel ; and when she returned she went to the east gable , where Anne was correcting school exercises . `` How is Mrs. Lynde tonight ? '' asked the latter . `` She 's feeling calmer and more composed , '' answered Marilla , sitting down on Anne 's bed ... a proceeding which betokened some unusual mental excitement , for in Marilla 's code of household ethics to sit on a bed after it was made up was an unpardonable offense . `` But she 's very lonely . Eliza had to go home today ... her son is n't well and she felt she could n't stay any longer . '' `` When I 've finished these exercises I 'll run down and chat awhile with Mrs. Lynde , '' said Anne . `` I had intended to study some Latin composition tonight but it can wait . ''
`` I suppose Gilbert Blythe is going to college in the fall , '' XXXXX Marilla jerkily .
'm 're brought go holding look said sitting stay wakened