`` I wish you would wake me up . Am I dreaming -- or am I awake ? Does that blessed boy realize what he is saying ? Does he mean that he is going to enlist as a soldier ? You do not mean to tell me that they want children like him ! It is an outrage . Surely you and the doctor will not permit it . '' `` We ca n't stop him , '' said Mrs. Blythe , chokingly . `` Oh , Gilbert ! '' Dr. Blythe came up behind his wife and took her hand gently , looking down into the sweet grey eyes that he had only once before seen filled with such imploring anguish as now . They both thought of that other time -- the day years ago in the House of Dreams when little Joyce had died . `` Would you have him stay , Anne -- when the others are going -- when he thinks it his duty -- would you have him so selfish and small-souled ? '' `` No -- no ! But -- oh -- our first-born son -- he 's only a lad -- Gilbert -- I 'll try to be brave after a while -- just now I ca n't . It 's all come so suddenly . Give me time . '' The doctor and his wife went out of the room . Jem had gone -- Walter had gone -- Shirley got up to go . Rilla and Susan remained staring at each other across the deserted table . Rilla had not yet cried -- she was too stunned for tears .
Then she saw XXXXX Susan was crying -- Susan , whom she had never seen shed a tear before .
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