demanded Susan scornfully . `` It is the opinion of a man who knows all about it , '' said Cousin Sophia solemnly . `` There is no such person , '' retorted Susan . `` As for the military critics , they do not know one blessed thing about it , any more than you or I . They have been mistaken times out of number . Why do you always look on the dark side , Sophia Crawford ? '' `` Because there ai n't any bright side , Susan Baker . '' `` Oh , is there not ? It is the twentieth of April , and Hindy is not in Paris yet , although he said he would be there by April first . Is that not a bright spot at least ? '' `` It is my opinion that the Germans will be in Paris before very long and more than that , Susan Baker , they will be in Canada . '' `` Not in this part of it . The Huns shall never set foot in Prince Edward Island as long as I can handle a pitchfork , '' declared Susan , looking , and feeling quite equal to routing the entire German army single-handed . `` No , Sophia Crawford , to tell you the plain truth I am sick and tired of your gloomy predictions . I do not deny that some mistakes have been made . The Germans would never have got back Passchendaele if the Canadians had been left there ; and it was bad business trusting to those Portuguese at the Lys River . But that is no reason why you or anyone should go about proclaiming the war is lost . I do not want to quarrel with you , least of all at such a time as this , but our morale must be kept up , and I am going to speak my mind out plainly and tell you that if you can not keep from such croaking your room is better than your company . '' Cousin Sophia marched home in high dudgeon to digest her affront , and did not reappear in Susan 's kitchen for many weeks . Perhaps it was just as well , for they were hard weeks , when the Germans continued to strike , now here , now there , and seemingly vital points fell to them at every blow .
And one day XXXXX early May , when wind and sunshine frolicked in Rainbow Valley and the maple grove was golden-green and the harbour all blue and dimpled and white-capped , the news came about Jem .
Because although at by for in of on that to