`` We did take the ditch -- and got up to our axles in sand -- and sat foolishly there while Miss Elizabeth clucked up her horse and rattled victoriously away . `` Jem will have a laugh when I write him this . He knows Miss Elizabeth of old . `` But -- will -- Venice -- be -- saved ? '' 19th November 1917 `` It is not saved yet -- it is still in great danger . But the Italians are making a stand at last on the Piave line . To be sure military critics say they can not possibly hold it and must retreat to the Adige . But Susan and Gertrude and I say they must hold it , because Venice must be saved , so what are the military critics to do ? `` Oh , if I could only believe that they can hold it ! `` Our Canadian troops have won another great victory -- they have stormed the Passchendaele Ridge and held it in the face of all counter attacks . None of our boys were in the battle -- but oh , the casualty list of other people 's boys ! Joe Milgrave was in it but came through safe . Miranda had some bad days until she got word from him . But it is wonderful how Miranda has bloomed out since her marriage . She is n't the same girl at all . Even her eyes seem to have darkened and deepened -- though I suppose that is just because they glow with the greater intensity that has come to her . She makes her father stand round in a perfectly amazing fashion ; she runs up the flag whenever a yard of trench on the western front is taken ; and she comes up regularly to our Junior Red Cross ; and she does -- yes , she does -- put on funny little ` married woman ' airs that are quite killing . But she is the only war-bride in the Glen and surely nobody need grudge her the satisfaction she gets out of it . `` The Russian news is bad , too -- Kerensky 's government has fallen and Lenin is dictator of Russia . Somehow , it is very hard to keep up courage in the dull hopelessness of these grey autumn days of suspense and boding news .
But we are beginning XXXXX ` get in a low , ' as old Highland Sandy says , over the approaching election .
because from of on since through to until up while