Cousin Sophia was there
also, sitting with Susan in the shadowy background. Mrs. Blythe and Nan
and Di were away, but Dr. Blythe was home and so was Dr. Jekyll, sitting
in golden majesty on the top step. And of course they were all talking
of the war, except Dr. Jekyll who kept his own counsel and looked
contempt as only a cat can. When two people foregathered in those days
they talked of the war; and old Highland Sandy of the Harbour Head
talked of it when he was alone and hurled anathemas at the Kaiser across
all the acres of his farm. Walter slipped away, not caring to see or be
seen, but Rilla sat down on the steps, where the garden mint was dewy
and pungent. It was a very calm evening with a dim, golden afterlight
irradiating the glen. She felt happier than at any time in the dreadful
week that had passed. She was no longer haunted by the fear that Walter
would go.
"I'd go myself if I was twenty years younger," Norman Douglas was
shouting. Norman always shouted when he was excited. "I'd show the
Kaiser a thing or two! Did I ever say there wasn't a hell? Of course
there's a hell--dozens of hells--hundreds of hells--where the Kaiser
and all his brood are bound for."
"I knew this war was coming," said Mrs. Norman triumphantly. "I saw it
coming right along. I could have told all those stupid Englishmen what
was ahead of them. I told you, John Meredith, years ago what the Kaiser
was up to but you wouldn't believe it.
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