Walter Blythe did not sigh . But Rilla , scanning his face anxiously , saw a look that cut into her heart . It haunted her for the next week and made an undercurrent of soreness in her soul , which was externally being harrowed up by the near approach of the Red Cross concert and the worries connected therewith . The Reese cold had not developed into whooping-cough , so that tangle was straightened out . But other things were hanging in the balance ; and on the very day before the concert came a regretful letter from Mrs. Channing saying that she could not come to sing . Her son , who was in Kingsport with his regiment , was seriously ill with pneumonia , and she must go to him at once . The members of the concert committee looked at each other in blank dismay . What was to be done ? `` This comes of depending on outside help , '' said Olive Kirk , disagreeably . `` We must do something , '' said Rilla , too desperate to care for Olive 's manner . `` We 've advertised the concert everywhere -- and crowds are coming -- there 's even a big party coming out from town -- and we were short enough of music as it was . We must get some one to sing in Mrs. Channing 's place . '' `` I do n't know who you can get at this late date , '' said Olive . `` Irene Howard could do it ; but it is not likely she will after the way she was insulted by our society . '' `` How did our society insult her ? '' asked Rilla , in what she called her ` cold-pale tone . ' Its coldness and pallor did not daunt Olive . `` You insulted her , '' she answered sharply . `` Irene told me all about it -- she was literally heart-broken . You told her never to speak to you again -- and Irene told me she simply could not imagine what she had said or done to deserve such treatment .
That was why she never came XXXXX our meetings again but joined in with the Lowbridge Red Cross .
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