She came dancing into the library, all white fur and flying silk.
“Oh, you mustn’t!” she cried. “You dear things, you mustn’t sit up for me!”
“We didn’t,” her mother said. “We were just reading. Who was it that brought you home? I asked your Aunt Sarah——”
“Oh, no! Aunt Sarah was there, but I didn’t want to trouble her to come out of her way.” Lily seated herself lightly on the arm of her mother’s chair, letting one cheerful foot swing and resting an affectionate hand upon Mrs. Dodge’s shoulder. “Freddie Haines brought me home. He’s a nice boy.”
“Is he?”
“I like him awf’ly,” said Lily. “I danced with lots of others, though, too. I didn’t want ’em to think I was only going to dance with nobody but Fred.”
“Didn’t you?”
“Freddie Haines is considerate,” said Lily. “He doesn’t mind my being an old engaged girl at all.” Upon this she looked across to meet her father’s frowning glance, and laughed. “Oh, Fred won’t tell; he’s never going to mention it. I didn’t forget I promised you to keep it under cover until we’re ready to have it announced. I haven’t told any one but Fred, and I’m not going to.” Here she jumped down from her mother’s chair, took an apple daintily from a bowl on the table, and skipped to the door, laughing reminiscently. “He didn’t take it seriously, anyhow!” she said as she went out. Then, humming a dance tune, she ran upstairs to her bed.
In the library the astounded parents gazed long upon each other, and the longer they gazed the wider were their eyes.
“Well, at least there’s this much to be said for me,” Lily’s father said, finally;—“when we decided to adopt my policy——”