The sun had set some time since , but the landscape was still clear in the mellow afterlight . To the west a dark church spire rose up against a marigold sky . Below was a little valley and beyond a long , gently-rising slope with snug farmsteads scattered along it . From one to another the child 's eyes darted , eager and wistful . At last they lingered on one away to the left , far back from the road , dimly white with blossoming trees in the twilight of the surrounding woods . Over it , in the stainless southwest sky , a great crystal-white star was shining like a lamp of guidance and promise . `` That 's it , is n't it ? '' she said , pointing . Matthew slapped the reins on the sorrel 's back delightedly . `` Well now , you 've guessed it ! But I reckon Mrs. Spencer described it so 's you could tell . '' `` No , she did n't -- really she did n't . All she said might just as well have been about most of those other places . I had n't any real idea what it looked like . But just as soon as I saw it I felt it was home . Oh , it seems as if I must be in a dream . Do you know , my arm must be black and blue from the elbow up , for I 've pinched myself so many times today . Every little while a horrible sickening feeling would come over me and I 'd be so afraid it was all a dream . Then I 'd pinch myself to see if it was real -- until suddenly I remembered that even supposing it was only a dream I 'd better go on dreaming as long as I could ; so I stopped pinching . But it IS real and we 're nearly home . ''
With a sigh XXXXX rapture she relapsed into silence .
At along as for from in of over to while