How sadly things had changed since she had sat there the night after coming home ! Then she had been full of hope and joy and the future had looked rosy with promise . Anne felt as if she had lived years since then , but before she went to bed there was a smile on her lips and peace in her heart . She had looked her duty courageously in the face and found it a friend -- as duty ever is when we meet it frankly . One afternoon a few days later Marilla came slowly in from the front yard where she had been talking to a caller -- a man whom Anne knew by sight as Sadler from Carmody . Anne wondered what he could have been saying to bring that look to Marilla 's face . `` What did Mr. Sadler want , Marilla ? '' Marilla sat down by the window and looked at Anne . There were tears in her eyes in defiance of the oculist 's prohibition and her voice broke as she said : `` He heard that I was going to sell Green Gables and he wants to buy it . '' `` Buy it ! Buy Green Gables ? '' Anne wondered if she had heard aright . `` Oh , Marilla , you do n't mean to sell Green Gables ! '' `` Anne , I do n't know what else is to be done . I 've thought it all over . If my eyes were strong I could stay here and make out to look after things and manage , with a good hired man . But as it is I ca n't . I may lose my sight altogether ; and anyway I 'll not be fit to run things . Oh , I never thought I 'd live to see the day when I 'd have to sell my home . But things would only go behind worse and worse all the time , till nobody would want to buy it .
Every cent of our money went in that bank ; and there 's some notes Matthew gave last fall XXXXX pay .
after as at by if in of since to with