Yes , that was it . She must be brave -- like mother -- and Nan -- and Faith -- Faith , who had cried with flashing eyes , `` Oh , if I were only a man , to go too ! '' Only , when her eyes ached and her throat burned like this she had to hide herself in Rainbow Valley for a little , just to think things out and remember that she was n't a child any longer -- she was grown-up and women had to face things like this . But it was -- nice -- to get away alone now and then , where nobody could see her and where she need n't feel that people thought her a little coward if some tears came in spite of her . How sweet and woodsey the ferns smelled ! How softly the great feathery boughs of the firs waved and murmured over her ! How elfinly rang the bells of the `` Tree Lovers '' -- just a tinkle now and then as the breeze swept by ! How purple and elusive the haze where incense was being offered on many an altar of the hills ! How the maple leaves whitened in the wind until the grove seemed covered with pale silvery blossoms ! Everything was just the same as she had seen it hundreds of times ; and yet the whole face of the world seemed changed . `` How wicked I was to wish that something dramatic would happen ! '' she thought . `` Oh , if we could only have those dear , monotonous , pleasant days back again ! I would never , never grumble about them again . '' Rilla 's world had tumbled to pieces the very day after the party . As they lingered around the dinner table at Ingleside , talking of the war , the telephone had rung . It was a long-distance call from Charlottetown for Jem . When he had finished talking he hung up the receiver and turned around , with a flushed face and glowing eyes . Before he had said a word his mother and Nan and Di had turned pale . As for Rilla , for the first time in her life she felt that every one must hear her heart beating and that something had clutched at her throat .
`` They are calling for volunteers in town , father , '' said XXXXX .
Di Ingleside Jem Valley day days firs first war woodsey