The best of the evening was over for Rilla , too . Ever since Jack Elliott 's announcement , she had sensed that Kenneth was no longer thinking about her . She felt suddenly lonely and unhappy . It was worse than if he had never noticed her at all . Was life like this -- something delightful happening and then , just as you were revelling in it , slipping away from you ? Rilla told herself pathetically that she felt years older than when she had left home that evening . Perhaps she did -- perhaps she was . Who knows ? It does not do to laugh at the pangs of youth . They are very terrible because youth has not yet learned that `` this , too , will pass away . '' Rilla sighed and wished she were home , in bed , crying into her pillow . `` Tired ? '' said Kenneth , gently but absently -- oh , so absently . He really did n't care a bit whether she were tired or not , she thought . `` Kenneth , '' she ventured timidly , `` you do n't think this war will matter much to us in Canada , do you ? '' `` Matter ? Of course it will matter to the lucky fellows who will be able to take a hand . I wo n't -- thanks to this confounded ankle . Rotten luck , I call it . '' `` I do n't see why we should fight England 's battles , '' cried Rilla .
`` She 's quite able XXXXX fight them herself . ''
Of about as in into like since than that to