`` Why , I am not running Rilla down , '' said Irene , opening her eyes widely . `` It was only her lack of feeling I was criticizing . I suppose she ca n't help it . Of course , she 's a born manager -- everyone knows that . She 's very fond of managing , too -- and people like that are very necessary I admit . So do n't look at me as if I 'd said something perfectly dreadful , Betty , please . I 'm quite willing to agree that Rilla Blythe is the embodiment of all the virtues , if that will please you . And no doubt it is a virtue to be quite unmoved by things that would crush most people . '' Some of Irene 's remarks were reported to Rilla ; but they did not hurt her as they would once have done . They did n't matter , that was all . Life was too big to leave room for pettiness . She had a pact to keep and a work to do ; and through the long hard days and weeks of that disastrous autumn she was faithful to her task . The war news was consistently bad , for Germany marched from victory to victory over poor Rumania . `` Foreigners -- foreigners , '' Susan muttered dubiously . `` Russians or Rumanians or whatever they may be , they are foreigners and you can not tie to them . But after Verdun I shall not give up hope . And can you tell me , Mrs. Dr. dear , if the Dobruja is a river or a mountain range , or a condition of the atmosphere ? '' The Presidential election in the United States came off in November , and Susan was red-hot over that -- and quite apologetic for her excitement . `` I never thought I would live to see the day when I would be interested in a Yankee election , Mrs. Dr. dear . It only goes to show we can never know what we will come to in this world , and therefore we should not be proud . ''
Susan stayed up late on the evening of the eleventh , ostensibly XXXXX finish a pair of socks .
as at for in like of over that through to