You know we are just two years nearer the end , whenever the end is appointed to be . '' `` Albert read in a Montreal paper today that a war expert gives it as his opinion that it will last five years more , '' was Cousin Sophia 's cheerful contribution . `` It ca n't , '' cried Rilla ; then she added with a sigh , `` Two years ago we would have said ` It ca n't last two years . ' But five more years of this ! '' `` If Rumania comes in , as I have strong hopes now of her doing , you will see the end in five months instead of five years , '' said Susan . `` I 've no faith in furriners , '' sighed Cousin Sophia . `` The French are foreigners , '' retorted Susan , `` and look at Verdun . And think of all the Somme victories this blessed summer . The Big Push is on and the Russians are still going well . Why , General Haig says that the German officers he has captured admit that they have lost the war . '' `` You ca n't believe a word the Germans say , '' protested Cousin Sophia . `` There is no sense in believing a thing just because you 'd like to believe it , Susan Baker . The British have lost millions of men at the Somme and how far have they got ? Look facts in the face , Susan Baker , look facts in the face . '' `` They are wearing the Germans out and so long as that happens it does not matter whether it is done a few miles east or a few miles west . I am not , '' admitted Susan in tremendous humility , `` I am not a military expert , Sophia Crawford , but even I can see that , and so could you if you were not determined to take a gloomy view of everything . The Huns have not got all the cleverness in the world . Have you not heard the story of Alistair MacCallum 's son Roderick , from the Upper Glen ? He is a prisoner in Germany and his mother got a letter from him last week . He wrote that he was being very kindly treated and that all the prisoners had plenty of food and so on , till you would have supposed everything was lovely .
But when he signed his name , right in between Roderick and MacCallum , he wrote two Gaelic words that meant ` all lies ' and the XXXXX censor did not understand Gaelic and thought it was all part of Roddy 's name .
Albert German Glen Haig MacCallum Montreal Rilla Roderick Somme Sophia