They have always lined up in clearly divided camps of
Liberal and Conservative, and now they are torn from their moorings--I
know I'm mixing my metaphors dreadfully--and set hopelessly adrift. It
will kill some of those old Grits to vote for Sir Robert Borden's
side--and yet they have to because they believe the time has come when
we must have conscription. And some poor Conservatives who are against
conscription must vote for Laurier, who always has been anathema to
them. Some of them are taking it terribly hard. Others seem to be in
much the same attitude as Mrs. Marshall Elliott has come to be
regarding Church Union.

"She was up here last night. She doesn't come as often as she used to.
She is growing too old to walk this far--dear old 'Miss Cornelia.' I
hate to think of her growing old--we have always loved her so and she
has always been so good to us Ingleside young fry.

"She used to be so bitterly opposed to Church Union. But last night,
when father told her it was practically decided, she said in a resigned
tone, 'Well, in a world where everything is being rent and torn what
matters one more rending and tearing? Anyhow, compared with Germans
even Methodists seem attractive to me.'

"Our Junior R.C. goes on quite smoothly, in spite of the fact that
Irene has come back to it--having fallen out with the Lowbridge
society, I understand. She gave me a sweet little jab last
meeting--about knowing me across the square in Charlottetown 'by my
green velvet hat.' Everybody knows me by that detestable and detested
hat. This will be my fourth season for it. Even mother wanted me to get
a new one this fall; but I said, 'No.' As long as the war lasts so long
do I wear that velvet hat in winter."

23rd November 1917

"The Piave line still holds--and General Byng has won a splendid
victory at Cambrai. I did run up the flag for that--but Susan only
said 'I shall set a kettle of water on the kitchen range tonight.
I notice little Kitchener always has an attack of croup after any
British victory. I do hope he has no pro-German blood in his veins.
Nobody knows much about his father's people.'

"Jims has had a few attacks of croup this fall--just the ordinary
croup--not that terrible thing he had last year. But whatever blood
runs in his little veins it is good, healthy blood. He is rosy and
plump and curly and cute; and he says such funny things and asks such
comical questions. He likes very much to sit in a special chai