"Sheer Babe-ishness."
"She won't stay there."
"Maybe. But I think Babe really wants to do something," he added, with sudden gravity. "You know papa isn't very rich, to say the least, and Babe is an independent mortal that wouldn't want to be supported all her days."
"I wonder if that did have anything to do with it," Cicely said musingly.
"It must be horrid to have to think about money things."
"Don't you ever do it?"
"No. Papa attends to all that, and he has all he wants. Oh, but won't it be good to see him!"
"Are you glad you're going, Cis?" Allyn's tone showed that he was hurt at the thought.
"No," she said flatly. "I have missed papa terribly, more than you can even imagine; but I have had a very happy year here, and I shall be sorry to go away. You've all made it pleasant for me, Allyn; you and Cousin Ted more than any of the rest."
"I—I'm glad if we have. It doesn't seem so. But what am I going to do without you, Cis?"
"Take to Jamie Lyman," she said merrily. "He won't fight with you as I do. Tell me about Mr. Barrett, Allyn. How long is he going to stay?"