Susan laid her parcels on the reed table , as one determined to do her duty . She was very tired but she must help Rilla out . Here was Kenneth Ford who had come to call on the family and they were all unfortunately out , and `` the poor child '' had had to entertain him alone . But Susan had come to her rescue -- Susan would do her part no matter how tired she was . `` Dear me , how you have grown up , '' she said , looking at Ken 's six feet of khaki uniform without the least awe . Susan had grown used to khaki now , and at sixty-four even a lieutenant 's uniform is just clothes and nothing else . `` It is an amazing thing how fast children do grow up . Rilla here , now , is almost fifteen . '' `` I 'm going on seventeen , Susan , '' cried Rilla almost passionately . She was a whole month past sixteen . It was intolerable of Susan . `` It seems just the other day that you were all babies , '' said Susan , ignoring Rilla 's protest . `` You were really the prettiest baby I ever saw , Ken , though your mother had an awful time trying to cure you of sucking your thumb . Do you remember the day I spanked you ? '' `` No , '' said Ken . `` Oh well , I suppose you would be too young -- you were only about four and you were here with your mother and you insisted on teasing Nan until she cried . I had tried several ways of stopping you but none availed , and I saw that a spanking was the only thing that would serve . So I picked you up and laid you across my knee and lambasted you well . You howled at the top of your voice but you left Nan alone after that . '' Rilla was writhing .
Had n't Susan any realization XXXXX she was addressing an officer of the Canadian Army ?
So across after as at past that though to with