It 's going to make it awful hard for people to get their roots in . It was n't so in my young days . We gin ` rally had beautiful Octobers then . But the seasons is altogether different now from what they used to be . '' Clear across Cousin Sophia 's doleful voice cut the telephone bell . Gertrude Oliver answered it . `` Yes -- what ? What ? Is it true -- is it official ? Thank you -- thank you . '' Gertrude turned and faced the room dramatically , her dark eyes flashing , her dark face flushed with feeling . All at once the sun broke through the thick clouds and poured through the big crimson maple outside the window . Its reflected glow enveloped her in a weird immaterial flame . She looked like a priestess performing some mystic , splendid rite . `` Germany and Austria are suing for peace , '' she said . Rilla went crazy for a few minutes . She sprang up and danced around the room , clapping her hands , laughing , crying . `` Sit down , child , '' said Mrs. Clow , who never got excited over anything , and so had missed a tremendous amount of trouble and delight in her journey through life . `` Oh , '' cried Rilla , `` I have walked the floor for hours in despair and anxiety in these past four years . Now let me walk in joy .
It was worth living long dreary XXXXX for this minute , and it would be worth living them again just to look back to it .
Austria Germany Gertrude Octobers Oliver Rilla Sophia minutes priestess years