It was a girl -- my girl -- my girl that I 'm proud of . '' He smiled his shy smile at her as he went into the yard . Anne took the memory of it with her when she went to her room that night and sat for a long while at her open window , thinking of the past and dreaming of the future . Outside the Snow Queen was mistily white in the moonshine ; the frogs were singing in the marsh beyond Orchard Slope . Anne always remembered the silvery , peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night . It was the last night before sorrow touched her life ; and no life is ever quite the same again when once that cold , sanctifying touch has been laid upon it . CHAPTER XXXVII . The Reaper Whose Name Is Death `` Matthew -- Matthew -- what is the matter ? Matthew , are you sick ? '' It was Marilla who spoke , alarm in every jerky word . Anne came through the hall , her hands full of white narcissus , -- it was long before Anne could love the sight or odor of white narcissus again , -- in time to hear her and to see Matthew standing in the porch doorway , a folded paper in his hand , and his face strangely drawn and gray . Anne dropped her flowers and sprang across the kitchen to him at the same moment as Marilla . They were both too late ; before they could reach him Matthew had fallen across the threshold . `` He 's fainted , '' gasped Marilla . `` Anne , run for Martin -- quick , quick ! He 's at the barn . '' Martin , the hired man , who had just driven home from the post office , started at once for the doctor , calling at Orchard Slope on his way to send Mr. and Mrs. Barry over . Mrs. Lynde , who was there on an errand , came too . They found Anne and Marilla distractedly trying to restore Matthew to consciousness . Mrs. Lynde pushed them gently aside , tried his pulse , and then laid her ear over his heart .
She looked at their anxious faces sorrowfully and the tears came XXXXX her eyes .
across as at beyond into of over to upon with