And what hurt most was that Rilla's laughter had grown so rare--Rilla whom she used to think laughed over-much.

Was all the child's girlhood to be so clouded?
Yet how strong and clever and womanly she was growing! How patiently she knitted and sewed and manipulated those uncertain Junior Reds! And how wonderful she was with Jims.
"She really could not do better for that child than if she had raised a baker's dozen, Mrs.Dr.dear," Susan had avowed solemnly.

"Little did I ever expect it of her on the day she landed here with that soup tureen.".