shrieked Diana , throwing herself on her knees beside her friend . `` Oh , Anne , dear Anne , speak just one word to me and tell me if you 're killed . '' To the immense relief of all the girls , and especially of Josie Pye , who , in spite of lack of imagination , had been seized with horrible visions of a future branded as the girl who was the cause of Anne Shirley 's early and tragic death , Anne sat dizzily up and answered uncertainly : `` No , Diana , I am not killed , but I think I am rendered unconscious . '' `` Where ? '' sobbed Carrie Sloane . `` Oh , where , Anne ? '' Before Anne could answer Mrs. Barry appeared on the scene . At sight of her Anne tried to scramble to her feet , but sank back again with a sharp little cry of pain . `` What 's the matter ? Where have you hurt yourself ? '' demanded Mrs. Barry . `` My ankle , '' gasped Anne . `` Oh , Diana , please find your father and ask him to take me home . I know I can never walk there . And I 'm sure I could n't hop so far on one foot when Jane could n't even hop around the garden . '' Marilla was out in the orchard picking a panful of summer apples when she saw Mr. Barry coming over the log bridge and up the slope , with Mrs. Barry beside him and a whole procession of little girls trailing after him . In his arms he carried Anne , whose head lay limply against his shoulder . At that moment Marilla had a revelation . In the sudden stab of fear that pierced her very heart she realized what Anne had come to mean to her . She would have admitted that she liked Anne -- nay , that she was very fond of Anne .
But now she knew as she hurried wildly down the slope that Anne was dearer XXXXX her than anything else on earth .
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