`` He said that when he got word of his wife 's death and of my taking the baby -- Mr. Meredith wrote him , you know -- he wrote right away , but as he never got any answer he had begun to think his letter must have been lost . '' `` It took him two years to begin to think it , '' said Susan scornfully . `` Some people think very slow . Jim Anderson has not got a scratch , for all he has been two years in the trenches . A fool for luck , as the old proverb says . '' `` He wrote very nicely about Jims and said he 'd like to see him , '' said Rilla . `` So I wrote and told him all about the wee man , and sent him snapshots . Jims will be two years old next week and he is a perfect duck . '' `` You did n't used to be very fond of babies , '' said Cousin Sophia . `` I 'm not a bit fonder of babies in the abstract than ever I was , '' said Rilla , frankly . `` But I do love Jims , and I 'm afraid I was n't really half as glad as I should have been when Jim Anderson 's letter proved that he was safe and sound . '' `` You was n't hoping the man would be killed ! '' cried Cousin Sophia in horrified accents . `` No -- no -- no ! I just hoped he would go on forgetting about Jims , Mrs. Crawford . '' `` And then your pa would have the expense of raising him , '' said Cousin Sophia reprovingly . `` You young creeturs are terrible thoughtless . '' Jims himself ran in at this juncture , so rosy and curly and kissable , that he extorted a qualified compliment even from Cousin Sophia . `` He 's a reel healthy-looking child now , though mebbee his colour is a mite too high -- sorter consumptive looking , as you might say . I never thought you 'd raise him when I saw him the day after you brung him home .
I reely did not think it was in you and I XXXXX Albert 's wife so when I got home .
'm 's extorted looking ran says sent told took wrote