`` I 'm frightened to look at my husband 's face for fear I 'll see in it that he wants to go too , '' said a little over-harbour bride . `` I 'm scared stiff , '' said whimsical Mrs. Jim Howard . `` I 'm scared Jim will enlist -- and I 'm scared he wo n't . '' `` The war will be over by Christmas , '' said Joe Vickers . `` Let them European nations fight it out between them , '' said Abner Reese . `` When he was a boy I gave him many a good trouncing , '' shouted Norman Douglas , who seemed to be referring to some one high in military circles in Charlottetown . `` Yes , sir , I walloped him well , big gun as he is now . '' `` The existence of the British Empire is at stake , '' said the Methodist minister . `` There 's certainly something about uniforms , '' sighed Irene Howard . `` It 's a commercial war when all is said and done and not worth one drop of good Canadian blood , '' said a stranger from the shore hotel . `` The Blythe family are taking it easy , '' said Kate Drew . `` Them young fools are just going for adventure , '' growled Nathan Crawford . `` I have absolute confidence in Kitchener , '' said the over-harbour doctor . In these ten minutes Rilla passed through a dizzying succession of anger , laughter , contempt , depression and inspiration . Oh , people were -- funny ! How little they understood . `` Taking it easy , '' indeed -- when even Susan had n't slept a wink all night ! Kate Drew always was a minx . Rilla felt as if she were in some fantastic nightmare . Were these the people who , three weeks ago , were talking of crops and prices and local gossip ?
There -- the train was coming -- mother was holding Jem 's hand -- Dog Monday was licking it -- everybody was saying good-bye -- the train was XXXXX !
about as between by for from in of through to