James Anderson had written to her not long before this ; he was wounded and in the hospital ; he would not be able to go back to the front and as soon as he was able he would be coming home for Jims . Rilla was heavy-hearted over this , and worried also . She loved Jims dearly and would feel deeply giving him up in any case ; but if Jim Anderson were a different sort of a man , with a proper home for the child , it would not be so bad . But to give Jims up to a roving , shiftless , irresponsible father , however kind and good-hearted he might be -- and she knew Jim Anderson was kind and good-hearted enough -- was a bitter prospect to Rilla . It was not even likely Anderson would stay in the Glen ; he had no ties there now ; he might even go back to England . She might never see her dear , sunshiny , carefully brought-up little Jims again . With such a father what might his fate be ? Rilla meant to beg Jim Anderson to leave him with her , but , from his letter , she had not much hope that he would . `` If he would only stay in the Glen , where I could keep an eye on Jims and have him often with me I would n't feel so worried over it , '' she reflected . `` But I feel sure he wo n't -- and Jims will never have any chance . And he is such a bright little chap -- he has ambition , wherever he got it -- and he is n't lazy . But his father will never have a cent to give him any education or start in life . Jims , my little war-baby , whatever is going to become of you ? '' Jims was not in the least concerned over what was to become of him . He was gleefully watching the antics of a striped chipmunk that was frisking over the roof of the little siding . As the train pulled out Jims leaned eagerly forward for a last look at Chippy , pulling his hand from Rilla 's . Rilla was so engrossed in wondering what was to become of Jims in the future that she forgot to take notice of what was happening to him in the present . What did happen was that Jims lost his balance , shot headlong down the steps , hurtled across the little siding platform , and landed in a clump of bracken fern on the other side . Rilla shrieked and lost her head . She sprang down the steps and jumped off the train .
Fortunately , the train was still going at a comparatively slow speed ; fortunately also , Rilla retained enough sense to jump the way it was going ; nevertheless , she fell and sprawled helplessly XXXXX the embankment , landing in a ditch full of a rank growth of golden-rod and fireweed .
With as at before down for if in over to