The fact that a slur at Walter was mixed up in it tied her tongue . So most people believed that Irene had been badly used , except a few girls who had never liked her and sided with Rilla . And yet -- the concert over which she had worked so hard was going to be a failure . Mrs. Channing 's four solos were the feature of the whole programme . `` Miss Oliver , what do you think about it ? '' she asked in desperation . `` I think Irene is the one who should apologize , '' said Miss Oliver . `` But unfortunately my opinion will not fill the blanks in your programme . '' `` If I went and apologized meekly to Irene she would sing , I am sure , '' sighed Rilla . `` She really loves to sing in public . But I know she 'll be nasty about it -- I feel I 'd rather do anything than go . I suppose I should go -- if Jem and Jerry can face the Huns surely I can face Irene Howard , and swallow my pride to ask a favour of her for the good of the Belgians . Just at present I feel that I can not do it but for all that I have a presentiment that after supper you 'll see me meekly trotting through Rainbow Valley on my way to the Upper Glen Road . '' Rilla 's presentiment proved correct . After supper she dressed herself carefully in her blue , beaded crepe -- for vanity is harder to quell than pride and Irene always saw any flaw or shortcoming in another girl 's appearance . Besides , as Rilla had told her mother one day when she was nine years old , `` It is easier to behave nicely when you have your good clothes on . '' Rilla did her hair very becomingly and donned a long raincoat for fear of a shower . But all the while her thoughts were concerned with the coming distasteful interview , and she kept rehearsing mentally her part in it . She wished it were over -- she wished she had never tried to get up a Belgian Relief concert -- she wished she had not quarreled with Irene . After all , disdainful silence would have been much more effective in meeting the slur upon Walter .
It was foolish and childish XXXXX fly out as she had done -- well , she would be wiser in the future , but meanwhile a large and very unpalatable slice of humble pie had to be eaten , and Rilla Blythe was no fonder of that wholesome article of diet than the rest of us .
Besides after for if in of on over to while