“That’s the luncheon.”
“Well, I want to hear all about it.”
“I thought maybe I’d stay over night at Lil’s.”
“Then let me come there—Lily will have Dick, and you know that ‘three’s a crowd.’”
“Right, John! You’ll be more than welcome.”
Almost wistfully Marjorie watched him go; she had enjoyed the evening even more than she would admit to herself. She took her flowers, absently pressing them to her lips, and half closed her eyes dreamily. After all, Girl Scouts were not the only thing in the world.
The next day she felt less tired, less depressed by the invisible weight she had seemed to be carrying, and by Christmas her old spirits had returned, she was quite herself again. John’s present turned out to be books; knowing her taste he had selected just what she liked best, yet in her heart she was a trifle disappointed. Why couldn’t it have been jewelry—not a ring, of course, but a pin, perhaps—it would have been so much more personal. Yet she knew that she had said nothing to tempt him to risk taking such a liberty, and she could not but admire him for his tact.
Her strength was so restored by the rest and quiet of the last few days that she decided to drive to New York in her car. Daisy and Florence would undoubtedly bring theirs, and perhaps Alice; it would be fun to display them together to Mae and Doris.
The weather was cold, but clear, and the roads were hard and dry. Wrapped snugly in her fur coat, she felt that the drive would be exhilarating; she jumped into her car with as keen a sense of anticipation as if it had been May instead of December. She did not regret in the least the fact that she was to go alone; her own thoughts would be as pleasant company as she could desire. At that moment Marjorie Wilkinson was perfectly happy.
She found four cars exactly alike parked in front of Lily’s apartment house, and for a second she wondered whether Ethel could have scorned the distance and driven all the way from school in hers. An instant later, however, she recognized Lily’s licence number, and laughed at her roommate’s evident desire to be represented in the display. Lily was prouder of her little roadster than she had ever been of her Rolls-Royce.