She was really quite unstrung , for the reaction from her fright and cramped clinging was making itself felt . Halfway up the path she met Jane and Diana rushing back to the pond in a state narrowly removed from positive frenzy . They had found nobody at Orchard Slope , both Mr. and Mrs. Barry being away . Here Ruby Gillis had succumbed to hysterics , and was left to recover from them as best she might , while Jane and Diana flew through the Haunted Wood and across the brook to Green Gables . There they had found nobody either , for Marilla had gone to Carmody and Matthew was making hay in the back field . `` Oh , Anne , '' gasped Diana , fairly falling on the former 's neck and weeping with relief and delight , `` oh , Anne -- we thought -- you were -- drowned -- and we felt like murderers -- because we had made -- you be -- Elaine . And Ruby is in hysterics -- oh , Anne , how did you escape ? '' `` I climbed up on one of the piles , '' explained Anne wearily , `` and Gilbert Blythe came along in Mr. Andrews 's dory and brought me to land . '' `` Oh , Anne , how splendid of him ! Why , it 's so romantic ! '' said Jane , finding breath enough for utterance at last . `` Of course you 'll speak to him after this . '' `` Of course I wo n't , '' flashed Anne , with a momentary return of her old spirit . `` And I do n't want ever to hear the word ` romantic ' again , Jane Andrews . I 'm awfully sorry you were so frightened , girls . It is all my fault . I feel sure I was born under an unlucky star . Everything I do gets me or my dearest friends into a scrape . We 've gone and lost your father 's flat , Diana , and I have a presentiment that we 'll not be allowed to row on the pond any more . '' Anne 's presentiment proved more trustworthy than presentiments are apt to do .
Great was the consternation XXXXX the Barry and Cuthbert households when the events of the afternoon became known .
Of at for from in into on than to with