He stalked up the steps of the veranda and laid them on Mrs. Blythe 's lap . `` Because Shirley is n't here to bring them , '' he said in his funny , shy , blunt way . `` And you thought of this , you darling , '' said Anne , her lips quivering , as she looked at the stocky , black-browed little chap , standing before her , with his hands thrust into his pockets . `` I wrote Jem to-day and told him not to worry ` bout you not getting your mayflowers , '' said Bruce seriously , '' 'cause I 'd see to that . And I told him I would be ten pretty soon now , so it wo n't be very long before I 'll be eighteen , and then I 'll go to help him fight , and maybe let him come home for a rest while I took his place . I wrote Jerry , too . Jerry 's getting better , you know . '' `` Is he ? Have you had any good news about him ? '' `` Yes . Mother had a letter to-day , and it said he was out of danger . '' `` Oh , thank God , '' murmured Mrs. Blythe , in a half-whisper . Bruce looked at her curiously . `` That is what father said when mother told him . But when l said it the other day when I found out Mr. Mead 's dog had n't hurt my kitten -- I thought he had shooken it to death , you know -- father looked awful solemn and said I must never say that again about a kitten . But I could n't understand why , Mrs. Blythe . I felt awful thankful , and it must have been God that saved Stripey , because that Mead dog had ` normous jaws , and oh , how it shook poor Stripey . And so why could n't I thank Him ? ` Course , '' added Bruce reminiscently , `` maybe I said it too loud -- 'cause I was awful glad and excited when I found Stripey was all right . I ` most shouted it , Mrs. Blythe .
Maybe if I 'd said it sort XXXXX whispery like you and father it would have been all right .
'cause about as because before of on out to with