Was it not the spirit that counted ? Yet Mrs. Blythe was hard put to it not to laugh . `` I am not , '' proceeded Susan firmly , `` going to lament or whine or question the wisdom of the Almighty any more as I have been doing lately . Whining and shirking and blaming Providence do not get us anywhere . We have just got to grapple with whatever we have to do whether it is weeding the onion patch , or running the Government . I shall grapple . Those blessed boys have gone to war ; and we women , Mrs. Dr. dear , must tarry by the stuff and keep a stiff upper lip . '' CHAPTER VII A WAR-BABY AND A SOUP TUREEN `` Liege and Namur -- and now Brussels ! '' The doctor shook his head . `` I do n't like it -- I do n't like it . '' `` Do not you lose heart , Dr. dear ; they were just defended by foreigners , '' said Susan superbly . `` Wait you till the Germans come against the British ; there will be a very different story to tell and that you may tie to . '' The doctor shook his head again , but a little less gravely ; perhaps they all shared subconsciously in Susan 's belief that `` the thin grey line '' was unbreakable , even by the victorious rush of Germany 's ready millions . At any rate , when the terrible day came -- the first of many terrible days -- with the news that the British army was driven back they stared at each other in blank dismay . `` It -- it ca n't be true , '' gasped Nan , taking a brief refuge in temporary incredulity . `` I felt that there was to be bad news today , '' said Susan , `` for that cat-creature turned into Mr. Hyde this morning without rhyme or reason for it , and that was no good omen . '' '' ' A broken , a beaten , but not a demoralized , army , ' '' muttered the doctor , from a London dispatch . `` Can it be England 's army of which such a thing is said ? '' `` It will be a long time now before the war is ended , '' said Mrs. Blythe despairingly . Susan 's faith , which had for a moment been temporarily submerged , now reappeared triumphantly .
`` Remember , Mrs. Dr. dear , that the British army is not the XXXXX navy .
British England Germany Liege London Namur Nan Providence days morning