Jack warded off a precipitate advance upon her person. "Don't you dare," she cried. "Why don't you all fall upon Nan? She is in a tighter box than I."
"Just what do you mean by that remark?" asked Nan coming nearer threateningly.
"I mean that not a soul outside the family is to know about Cart and me, but you will have to tell Eleanor, at least, and Jo, of course, and so it will go."
"I won't have to tell Eleanor, for Neal is going to do that himself," retorted Nan.
"I will venture to say that is she now," cried Mary Lee as a tap was heard at the door.
She was right, for they admitted Eleanor who came in buoyantly. "Where is that dear old Nan?" she exclaimed. "I can scarcely wait to get hold of her. Neal has told me and I can't tell you how glad I am to have a sister, and such a sister! You blessed old dear, if you don't like me for a sister-in-law it will not be for lack of love on my part."
"How sweet you are to say such things," returned Nan with feeling. "I hope the rest of the family will be as kind as you."
"Oh, they are bound to, and you know we are not so many, just the two boys and myself after father and mother. Oh, girls, if I hadn't promised to stay out here a year, I should be inclined to go back with you, but Aunt Nora would think it mean of me after she has been so good as to let me have these weeks with you all. Wouldn't it be fine if, at the end of a year, Neal and I could go back together and that he could then have an appointment not so far off?"
Her question was interrupted by a summons which came for Jack. Some one wished to see her.
"It couldn't be Carter, could it?" whispered Jean to Mary Lee.