The gap caused by the St. Quentin disaster had been patched up in time , but the Allied line was being pushed relentlessly back from the territory they had purchased in 1917 with half a million lives . On Wednesday the headline was `` British and French Check Germans '' ; but still the retreat went on . Back -- and back -- and back ! Where would it end ? Would the line break again -- this time disastrously ? On Saturday the headline was `` Even Berlin Admits Offensive Checked , '' and for the first time in that terrible week the Ingleside folk dared to draw a long breath . `` Well , we have got one week over -- now for the next , '' said Susan staunchly . `` I feel like a prisoner on the rack when they stopped turning it , '' Miss Oliver said to Rilla , as they went to church on Easter morning . `` But I am not off the rack . The torture may begin again at any time . '' `` I doubted God last Sunday , '' said Rilla , `` but I do n't doubt him today . Evil can not win . Spirit is on our side and it is bound to outlast flesh . '' Nevertheless her faith was often tried in the dark spring that followed . Armageddon was not , as they had hoped , a matter of a few days . It stretched out into weeks and months . Again and again Hindenburg struck his savage , sudden blows , with alarming , though futile success . Again and again the military critics declared the situation extremely perilous . Again and again Cousin Sophia agreed with the military critics . `` If the Allies go back three miles more the war is lost , '' she wailed .
`` Is the British navy anchored XXXXX those three miles ? ''
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