And I had to bring her home . She could n't be left there , no matter where the mistake had come in . '' `` Well , this is a pretty piece of business ! '' ejaculated Marilla . During this dialogue the child had remained silent , her eyes roving from one to the other , all the animation fading out of her face . Suddenly she seemed to grasp the full meaning of what had been said . Dropping her precious carpet-bag she sprang forward a step and clasped her hands . `` You do n't want me ! '' she cried . `` You do n't want me because I 'm not a boy ! I might have expected it . Nobody ever did want me . I might have known it was all too beautiful to last . I might have known nobody really did want me . Oh , what shall I do ? I 'm going to burst into tears ! '' Burst into tears she did . Sitting down on a chair by the table , flinging her arms out upon it , and burying her face in them , she proceeded to cry stormily . Marilla and Matthew looked at each other deprecatingly across the stove . Neither of them knew what to say or do .
Finally Marilla stepped lamely XXXXX the breach .
During across at because by from into of on to