In the morning, Mrs. North tapped on Lilian’s door and came in to visit with her. Lilian gave her mother a warm hug and then slipped her left hand into her mother’s. “Look!” said she.
“Oh, Lilian—just what I was afraid of!”
“Is it so dreadful, Mother?”
“Oh, no, my child, but you are so young to be engaged.”
“Not if you are sure, Mother. Besides we do not intend to be married for some time. I am not so terribly young, either. And I don’t see what possible objection you could have to Philip.”
Mrs. North smiled. “I liked him very much. He is unusually attractive, and his face is good as well as handsome.”
“That’s a dear mother! But I accepted the ring, Mother, with the understanding that if you and Father felt too bad about it I would not wear it, and we would not announce the engagement. But we can’t help caring for each other. I tried not to, because I thought Philip liked Ann Maria; and he was so polite to everybody that I thought his attentions to me might not mean anything.”
“Well, little girl, I’ll talk to your father, and see what he says. It was very dear of you to be willing to wait in regard to the ring, and the acknowledged engagement.” Mrs. North kissed Lilian, patted the little hand that wore the ring, and went out to talk to her husband.
“What do you think, Father?”
The judge considered a moment. “How old is Lilian?”