A copy would be such a soulless thing . But Una -- Una had so little -- and her eyes were the eyes of a woman stricken to the heart , who yet must not cry out or ask for sympathy . `` Una , would you like to have this letter -- to keep ? '' she asked slowly . `` Yes -- if you can give it to me , '' Una said dully . `` Then -- you may have it , '' said Rilla hurriedly . `` Thank you , '' said Una . It was all she said , but there was something in her voice which repaid Rilla for her bit of sacrifice . Una took the letter and when Rilla had gone she pressed it against her lonely lips . Una knew that love would never come into her life now -- it was buried for ever under the blood-stained soil `` Somewhere in France . '' No one but herself -- and perhaps Rilla -- knew it -- would ever know it . She had no right in the eyes of her world to grieve . She must hide and bear her long pain as best she could -- alone . But she , too , would keep faith . CHAPTER XXIV MARY IS JUST IN TIME The autumn of 1916 was a bitter season for Ingleside . Mrs. Blythe 's return to health was slow , and sorrow and loneliness were in all hearts . Every one tried to hide it from the others and `` carry on '' cheerfully . Rilla laughed a good deal . Nobody at Ingleside was deceived by her laughter ; it came from her lips only , never from her heart . But outsiders said some people got over trouble very easily , and Irene Howard remarked that she was surprised to find how shallow Rilla Blythe really was .
`` Why , after all her pose of being so devoted XXXXX Walter , she does n't seem to mind his death at all .
as at by for from if into over that to