The doctor and Mrs. Blythe exchanged amused , satisfied smiles behind Rilla 's back ; and nothing more was said about Hopetown . Then the smile faded from the doctor 's face ; the Germans were twenty miles from Paris . Horrible tales were beginning to appear in the papers of deeds done in martyred Belgium . Life was very tense at Ingleside for the older people . `` We eat up the war news , '' Gertrude Oliver told Mrs. Meredith , trying to laugh and failing . `` We study the maps and nip the whole Hun army in a few well-directed strategic moves . But Papa Joffre has n't the benefit of our advice -- and so Paris -- must -- fall . '' `` Will they reach it -- will not some mighty hand yet intervene ? '' murmured John Meredith . `` I teach school like one in a dream , '' continued Gertrude ; `` then I come home and shut myself in my room and walk the floor . I am wearing a path right across Nan 's carpet . We are so horribly near this war . '' `` Them German men are at Senlis . Nothing nor nobody can save Paris now , '' wailed Cousin Sophia . Cousin Sophia had taken to reading the newspapers and had learned more about the geography of northern France , if not about the pronunciation of French names , in her seventy-first year than she had ever known in her schooldays . `` I have not such a poor opinion of the Almighty , or of Kitchener , '' said Susan stubbornly . `` I see there is a Bernstoff man in the States who says that the war is over and Germany has won -- and they tell me Whiskers-on-the-moon says the same thing and is quite pleased about it , but I could tell them both that it is chancy work counting chickens even the day before they are hatched , and bears have been known to live long after their skins were sold . '' `` Why ai n't the British navy doing more ? '' persisted Cousin Sophia . `` Even the British navy can not sail on dry land , Sophia Crawford .
I have not given up hope , and I shall not , Tomascow and Mobbage and all such barbarous names XXXXX the contrary notwithstanding .
across before behind if in near on over than to