"Of course I'll forgive you--though I did feel awfully about it--how awfully I hope you'll never know.

I cried for weeks over it.

And I hadn't said or done a thing!" Rilla choked back a retort.

After all, there was no use in arguing with Irene, and the Belgians were starving.
"Don't you think you can help us with the concert," she forced herself to say.

Oh, if only Irene would stop looking at that boot! Rilla could just hear her giving Olive Kirk an account of it.
"I don't see how I really can at the last moment like this," protested Irene.