Her son , who was in Kingsport with his regiment , was seriously ill with pneumonia , and she must go to him at once . The members of the concert committee looked at each other in blank dismay . What was to be done ? `` This comes of depending on outside help , '' said Olive Kirk , disagreeably . `` We must do something , '' said Rilla , too desperate to care for Olive 's manner . `` We 've advertised the concert everywhere -- and crowds are coming -- there 's even a big party coming out from town -- and we were short enough of music as it was . We must get some one to sing in Mrs. Channing 's place . '' `` I do n't know who you can get at this late date , '' said Olive . `` Irene Howard could do it ; but it is not likely she will after the way she was insulted by our society . '' `` How did our society insult her ? '' asked Rilla , in what she called her ` cold-pale tone . ' Its coldness and pallor did not daunt Olive . `` You insulted her , '' she answered sharply . `` Irene told me all about it -- she was literally heart-broken . You told her never to speak to you again -- and Irene told me she simply could not imagine what she had said or done to deserve such treatment . That was why she never came to our meetings again but joined in with the Lowbridge Red Cross . I do not blame her in the least , and I , for one , will not ask her to lower herself by helping us out of this scrape . '' `` You do n't expect me to ask her ? '' giggled Amy MacAllister , the other member of the committee . `` Irene and I have n't spoken for a hundred years .
XXXXX is always getting ` insulted ' by somebody .
Cross Howard Irene Kingsport Kirk MacAllister Olive Rilla pneumonia years