She sighed for the third time and groaned out , ` But the Russians are retreating fast , ' and I said , ` Well , what of it ? They have plenty of room for retreating , have they not ? ' But all the same , Mrs. Dr. dear , though I would never admit it to Cousin Sophia , I do not like the situation on the eastern front . '' Nobody else liked it either ; but all summer the Russian retreat went on -- a long-drawn-out agony . `` I wonder if I shall ever again be able to await the coming of the mail with feelings of composure -- never to speak of pleasure , '' said Gertrude Oliver . `` The thought that haunts me night and day is -- will the Germans smash Russia completely and then hurl their eastern army , flushed with victory , against the western front ? '' `` They will not , Miss Oliver dear , '' said Susan , assuming the role of prophetess . `` In the first place , the Almighty will not allow it , in the second , Grand Duke Nicholas , though he may have been a disappointment to us in some respects , knows how to run away decently and in order , and that is a very useful knowledge when Germans are chasing you . Norman Douglas declares he is just luring them on and killing ten of them to one he loses . But I am of the opinion he can not help himself and is just doing the best he can under the circumstances , the same as the rest of us . So do not go so far afield to borrow trouble , Miss Oliver dear , when there is plenty of it already camping on our very doorstep . '' Walter had gone to Kingsport the first of June . Nan , Di and Faith had gone also to do Red Cross work in their vacation . In mid-July Walter came home for a week 's leave before going overseas . Rilla had lived through the days of his absence on the hope of that week , and now that it had come she drank every minute of it thirstily , hating even the hours she had to spend in sleep , they seemed such a waste of precious moments . In spite of its sadness , it was a beautiful week , full of poignant , unforgettable hours , when she and Walter had long walks and talks and silences together . He was all her own and she knew that he found strength and comfort in her sympathy and understanding . It was very wonderful to know she meant so much to him -- the knowledge helped her through moments that would otherwise have been unendurable , and gave her power to smile -- and even to laugh a little . When Walter had gone she might indulge in the comfort of tears , but not while he was here . She would not even let herself cry at night , lest her eyes should betray her to him in the morning .
On his last evening XXXXX home they went together to Rainbow Valley and sat down on the bank of the brook , under the White Lady , where the gay revels of olden days had been held in the cloudless years .
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