she said , responding to his mood . `` Blue -- blue -- you 'd have to say ` blue ' a hundred times before you could express how blue it is . '' Susan wandered by , her head tied up with a shawl , her hands full of garden implements . Doc , stealthy and wild-eyed , was shadowing her steps among the spirea bushes . `` The sky may be blue , '' said Susan , `` but that cat has been Hyde all day so we will likely have rain tonight and by the same token I have rheumatism in my shoulder . '' `` It may rain -- but do n't think rheumatism , Susan -- think violets , '' said Walter gaily -- rather too gaily , Rilla thought . Susan considered him unsympathetic . `` Indeed , Walter dear , I do not know what you mean by thinking violets , '' she responded stiffly , `` and rheumatism is not a thing to be joked about , as you may some day realize for yourself . I hope I am not of the kind that is always complaining of their aches and pains , especially now when the news is so terrible . Rheumatism is bad enough but I realize , and none better , that it is not to be compared to being gassed by the Huns . '' `` Oh , my God , no ! '' exclaimed Walter passionately . He turned and went back to the house . Susan shook her head . She disapproved entirely of such ejaculations . `` I hope he will not let his mother hear him talking like that , '' she thought as she stacked the hoes and rake away . Rilla was standing among the budding daffodils with tear-filled eyes . Her evening was spoiled ; she detested Susan , who had somehow hurt Walter ; and Jem -- had Jem been gassed ? Had he died in torture ? `` I ca n't endure this suspense any longer , '' said Rilla desperately .
But she endured it XXXXX the others did for another week .
as before by for in like so that to with