"There was a time," she said sorrowfully, "when I did not care what happened outside of P.E.

Island, and now a king cannot have a toothache in Russia or China but it worries me.

It may be broadening to the mind, as the doctor said, but it is very painful to the feelings." When Christmas came again Susan did not set any vacant places at the festive board.

Two empty chairs were too much even for Susan who had thought in September that there would not be one.
"This is the first Christmas that Walter was not home," Rilla wrote in her diary that night.

"Jem used to be away for Christmases up in Avonlea, but Walter never was.