I take the whole responsibility , Mrs. Dr. dear , so do not you vex your conscience . '' Susan spoiled Shirley shamelessly that winter . He came home from Queen 's every week-end , and Susan had all his favourite dishes for him , in so far as she could evade or wheedle the doctor , and waited on him hand and foot . Though she talked war constantly to everyone else she never mentioned it to him or before him , but she watched him like a cat watching a mouse ; and when the German retreat from the Bapaume salient began and continued , Susan 's exultation was linked up with something deeper than anything she expressed . Surely the end was in sight -- would come now before -- anyone else -- could go . `` Things are coming our way at last . We have got the Germans on the run , '' she boasted . `` The United States has declared war at last , as I always believed they would , in spite of Woodrow 's gift for letter writing , and you will see they will go into it with a vim since I understand that is their habit , when they do start . And we have got the Germans on the run , too . '' `` The States mean well , '' moaned Cousin Sophia , `` but all the vim in the world can not put them on the fighting line this spring , and the Allies will be finished before that . The Germans are just luring them on . That man Simonds says their retreat has put the Allies in a hole . '' `` That man Simonds has said more than he will ever live to make good , '' retorted Susan . `` I do not worry myself about his opinion as long as Lloyd George is Premier of England . He will not be bamboozled and that you may tie to . Things look good to me . The U. S. is in the war , and we have got Kut and Bagdad back -- and I would not be surprised to see the Allies in Berlin by June -- and the Russians , too , since they have got rid of the Czar . That , in my opinion was a good piece of work . '' `` Time will show if it is , '' said Cousin Sophia , who would have been very indignant if anyone had told her that she would rather see Susan put to shame as a seer , than a successful overthrow of tyranny , or even the march of the Allies down Unter den Linden . But then the woes of the Russian people were quite unknown to Cousin Sophia , while this aggravating , optimistic Susan was an ever-present thorn in her side .
Just at that moment Shirley was sitting on the edge XXXXX the table in the living-room , swinging his legs -- a brown , ruddy , wholesome lad , from top to toe , every inch of him -- and saying coolly , `` Mother and dad , I was eighteen last Monday .
Though as at before for if like of to with