Jem had gone--Walter had gone--Shirley got up to go.

Rilla and Susan remained staring at each other across the deserted table.

Rilla had not yet cried--she was too stunned for tears.

Then she saw that Susan was crying--Susan, whom she had never seen shed a tear before.
"Oh, Susan, will he really go ?" she asked.
"It--it--it is just ridiculous, that is what it is," said Susan.
She wiped away her tears, gulped resolutely and got up.
"I am going to wash the dishes.

That has to be done, even if everybody has gone crazy.