"Mother sat a little while in silence. Then she came over, sat down
beside me, and took me in her arms.
"'Don't cry, dear little Rilla-my-Rilla. You have nothing to reproach
yourself with in regard to Fred; and if Leslie West's son asked you to
keep your lips for him, I think you may consider yourself engaged to
him. But--oh, my baby--my last little baby--I have lost you--the war
has made a woman of you too soon.'
"I shall never be too much of a woman to find comfort in mother's hugs.
Nevertheless, when I saw Fred marching by two days later in the parade,
my heart ached unbearably.
"But I'm glad mother thinks I'm really engaged to Ken!"
CHAPTER XXII
LITTLE DOG MONDAY KNOWS
"It is two years tonight since the dance at the light, when Jack Elliott
brought us news of the war. Do you remember, Miss Oliver?"
Cousin Sophia answered for Miss Oliver. "Oh, indeed, Rilla, I remember
that evening only too well, and you a-prancing down here to show off
your party clothes. Didn't I warn you that we could not tell what was
before us? Little did you think that night what was before you."
"Little did any of us think that," said Susan sharply, "not being gifted
with the power of prophecy. It does not require any great foresight,
Sophia Crawford, to tell a body that she will have some trouble before
her life is over. I could do as much myself."
"We all thought the war would be over in a few months then," said Rilla
wistfully.
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