five
o’clock
Her eyes dwelt affectionately on Green Gables , peering through its network of trees and reflecting the sunlight back from its windows in several little coruscations of glory . Marilla , as she picked her steps along the damp lane , thought that it was really a satisfaction to know that she was going home to a briskly snapping wood fire and a table nicely spread for tea , instead of to the cold comfort of old Aid meeting evenings before Anne had come to Green Gables . Consequently , when Marilla entered her kitchen and found the fire black out , with no sign of Anne anywhere , she felt justly disappointed and irritated . She had told Anne to be sure and have tea ready at five o'clock , but now she must hurry to take off her second-best dress and prepare the meal herself against Matthew 's return from plowing . `` I 'll settle Miss Anne when she comes home , '' said Marilla grimly , as she shaved up kindlings with a carving knife and with more vim than was strictly necessary . Matthew had come in and was waiting patiently for his tea in his corner . `` She 's gadding off somewhere with Diana , writing stories or practicing dialogues or some such tomfoolery , and never thinking once about the time or her duties .