But she was so busy with the Junior Reds and her baby that there was rarely a spare minute for loneliness ; sometimes , after she went to bed , she cried a little in her pillow over Walter 's absence and Jem at Valcartier and Kenneth 's unromantic farewell message , but she was generally asleep before the tears got fairly started . `` Shall I make arrangements to have the baby sent to Hopetown ? '' the doctor asked one day two weeks after the baby 's arrival at Ingleside . For a moment Rilla was tempted to say `` Yes . '' The baby could be sent to Hopetown -- it would be decently looked after -- she could have her free days and untrammelled nights back again . But -- but -- that poor young mother who had n't wanted it to go to the asylum ! Rilla could n't get that out of her thoughts . And that very morning she discovered that the baby had gained eight ounces since its coming to Ingleside . Rilla had felt such a thrill of pride over this . `` You -- you said it might n't live if it went to Hopetown , '' she said . `` It might n't . Somehow , institutional care , no matter how good it may be , does n't always succeed with delicate babies . But you know what it means if you want it kept here , Rilla . '' `` I 've taken care of it for a fortnight -- and it has gained half a pound , '' cried Rilla . `` I think we 'd better wait until we hear from its father anyhow . He might n't want to have it sent to an orphan asylum , when he is fighting the battles of his country . '' The doctor and Mrs. Blythe exchanged amused , satisfied smiles behind Rilla 's back ; and nothing more was said about Hopetown . Then the smile faded from the doctor 's face ; the Germans were twenty miles from Paris . Horrible tales were beginning to appear in the papers of deeds done in martyred Belgium . Life was very tense at Ingleside for the older people .
`` We eat up the war news , '' Gertrude Oliver told Mrs. Meredith , trying XXXXX laugh and failing .
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