The measure of that day 's tribulations was not yet full . Just as Mr. Allan had finished returning thanks there arose a strange , ominous sound on the stairs , as of some hard , heavy object bounding from step to step , finishing up with a grand smash at the bottom . Everybody ran out into the hall . Anne gave a shriek of dismay . At the bottom of the stairs lay a big pink conch shell amid the fragments of what had been Miss Barry 's platter ; and at the top of the stairs knelt a terrified Davy , gazing down with wide-open eyes at the havoc . `` Davy , '' said Marilla ominously , `` did you throw that conch down ON PURPOSE ? '' `` No , I never did , '' whimpered Davy . `` I was just kneeling here , quiet as quiet , to watch you folks through the bannisters , and my foot struck that old thing and pushed it off ... and I 'm awful hungry ... and I do wish you 'd lick a fellow and have done with it , instead of always sending him upstairs to miss all the fun . '' `` Do n't blame Davy , '' said Anne , gathering up the fragments with trembling fingers . `` It was my fault . I set that platter there and forgot all about it . I am properly punished for my carelessness ; but oh , what will Miss Barry say ? '' `` Well , you know she only bought it , so it is n't the same as if it was an heirloom , '' said Diana , trying to console . The guests went away soon after , feeling that it was the most tactful thing to do , and Anne and Diana washed the dishes , talking less than they had ever been known to do before . Then Diana went home with a headache and Anne went with another to the east gable , where she stayed until Marilla came home from the post office at sunset , with a letter from Priscilla , written the day before . Mrs. Morgan had sprained her ankle so severely that she could not leave her room . `` And oh , Anne dear , '' wrote Priscilla , `` I 'm so sorry , but I 'm afraid we wo n't get up to Green Gables at all now , for by the time Aunty 's ankle is well she will have to go back to Toronto . She has to be there by a certain date . '' `` Well , '' sighed Anne , laying the letter down on the red sandstone step of the back porch , where she was sitting , while the twilight rained down out of a dappled sky , `` I always thought it was too good to be true that Mrs. Morgan should really come . But there ... that speech sounds as pessimistic as Miss Eliza Andrews and I 'm ashamed of making it .
After all , it was NOT too good XXXXX be true ... things just as good and far better are coming true for me all the time .
after at by for into on so that through to