thing Susan never did in my recollection. Mother and Miss Oliver and I cried but Susan looked at us in stony sarcasm and said,
“‘The Kaiser and his six sons are all alive and thriving. So the world is not left wholly desolate. Why cry, Mrs. Dr. dear?’ Susan continued in this stony, hopeless condition for twenty-four hours, and then Cousin Sophia appeared and began to condole with her.
“‘This is terrible news, ain’t it, Susan? We might as well prepare for the worst for it is bound to come. You said once—and well do I remember the words, Susan Baker—that you had complete confidence in God and Kitchener. Ah well, Susan Baker, there is only God left now.’
“Whereat Cousin Sophia put her handkerchief to her eyes pathetically as if the world were indeed in terrible straits.
“As for Susan, Cousin Sophia was the salvation of her. She came to life with a jerk.
“‘Sophia Crawford, hold your peace!’ she said sternly. ‘You may be an idiot but you need not be an irreverent idiot. It is no more than decent to be weeping and wailing because the Almighty is the sole stay of the Allies now. As for Kitchener, his death is a great loss and I do not dispute it. But the outcome of this war does not depend on one man’s life and now that the Russians are coming on again you will soon see a change for the better.’
“Susan said this so energetically that she convinced herself and cheered up immediately. But Cousin Sophia shook her head.
“‘Albert’s wife wants to call the baby after Brusil-
