I may have deceived myself -- but we shall see . '' They did see . The next Sunday Miller Douglas walked into the Glen Church beside Mary Vance in khaki . And Mary was so proud of him that her white eyes fairly blazed . Joe Milgrave , back under the gallery , looked at Miller and Mary and then at Miranda Pryor , and sighed so heavily that every one within a radius of three pews heard him and knew what his trouble was . Walter Blythe did not sigh . But Rilla , scanning his face anxiously , saw a look that cut into her heart . It haunted her for the next week and made an undercurrent of soreness in her soul , which was externally being harrowed up by the near approach of the Red Cross concert and the worries connected therewith . The Reese cold had not developed into whooping-cough , so that tangle was straightened out . But other things were hanging in the balance ; and on the very day before the concert came a regretful letter from Mrs. Channing saying that she could not come to sing . Her son , who was in Kingsport with his regiment , was seriously ill with pneumonia , and she must go to him at once . The members of the concert committee looked at each other in blank dismay . What was to be done ? `` This comes of depending on outside help , '' said Olive Kirk , disagreeably . `` We must do something , '' said Rilla , too desperate to care for Olive 's manner . `` We 've advertised the concert everywhere -- and crowds are coming -- there 's even a big party coming out from town -- and we were short enough of music as it was . We must get some one to sing in Mrs. Channing 's place . '' `` I do n't know who you can get at this late date , '' said Olive . `` Irene Howard could do it ; but it is not likely she will after the way she was insulted by our society . '' `` How did our society insult her ? ''
asked Rilla , XXXXX what she called her ` cold-pale tone . '
after before by from in into of on that to