The child had evidently been crying and Marilla felt a pang of pity which she sternly repressed . By night she was , as she expressed it , `` beat out . '' `` You 'll stay in this room until you confess , Anne . You can make up your mind to that , '' she said firmly . `` But the picnic is tomorrow , Marilla , '' cried Anne . `` You wo n't keep me from going to that , will you ? You 'll just let me out for the afternoon , wo n't you ? Then I 'll stay here as long as you like AFTERWARDS cheerfully . But I MUST go to the picnic . '' `` You 'll not go to picnics nor anywhere else until you 've confessed , Anne . '' `` Oh , Marilla , '' gasped Anne . But Marilla had gone out and shut the door . Wednesday morning dawned as bright and fair as if expressly made to order for the picnic . Birds sang around Green Gables ; the Madonna lilies in the garden sent out whiffs of perfume that entered in on viewless winds at every door and window , and wandered through halls and rooms like spirits of benediction . The birches in the hollow waved joyful hands as if watching for Anne 's usual morning greeting from the east gable . But Anne was not at her window . When Marilla took her breakfast up to her she found the child sitting primly on her bed , pale and resolute , with tight-shut lips and gleaming eyes . `` Marilla , I 'm ready to confess . '' `` Ah ! '' Marilla laid down her tray .
Once again her method had succeeded ; but her success was very bitter XXXXX her .
By around as at for in like of to until