i spoke of him to rilla at the last junior red meeting -- of how fine and brave and splendid he was -- and i said life could never be just the same to me again, now that walter had gone -- we were such friends, you know -- why i was the very first person he told about having enlisted -- and rilla answered, as coolly and indifferently as if she were speaking of an entire stranger,'he was just one of many fine and splendid boys who have given everything for their country.'