It shows how tender and thoughtful he is . And yet there are people who send him cruel letters ! `` It seems strange that we can go in with ordinary life just as if nothing were happening overseas that concerned us , just as if any day might not bring us awful news . But we can and do . Susan is putting in the garden , and mother and she are housecleaning , and we Junior Reds are getting up a concert in aid of the Belgians . We have been practising for a month and having no end of trouble and bother with cranky people . Miranda Pryor promised to help with a dialogue and when she had her part all learnt her father put his foot down and refused to allow her to help at all . I am not blaming Miranda exactly , but I do think she might have a little more spunk sometimes . If she put her foot down once in a while she might bring her father to terms , for she is all the housekeeper he has and what would he do if she ` struck ' ? If I were in Miranda 's shoes I 'd find some way of managing Whiskers-on-the-moon . I would horse-whip him , or bite him , if nothing else would serve . But Miranda is a meek and obedient daughter whose days should be long in the land . `` I could n't get anyone else to take the part , because nobody liked it , so finally I had to take it myself . Olive Kirk is on the concert committee and goes against me in every single thing . But I got my way in asking Mrs. Channing to come out from town and sing for us , anyhow . She is a beautiful singer and will draw such a crowd that we will make more than we will have to pay her . Olive Kirk thought our local talent good enough and Minnie Clow wo n't sing at all now in the choruses because she would be so nervous before Mrs. Channing . And Minnie is the only good alto we have ! There are times when I am so exasperated that I feel tempted to wash my hands of the whole affair ; but after I dance round my room a few times in sheer rage I cool down and have another whack at it . Just at present I am racked with worry for fear the Isaac Reeses are taking whooping-cough .
They have all got a dreadful cold and there are five of them who have important parts XXXXX the programme and if they go and develop whooping-cough what shall I do ?
after at because for if in on to while with