At breakfast they all talked on general topics. Dick had had Louise Van Ness out to a concert the night before, and reported on the program, asking Lilian where she and Philip had gone. Plans for Christmas and New Year’s were discussed. Lilian had taken off the ring before coming to the table. No need to tell Dick until the matter was decided. Judge North and Richard departed for the city in due time, while Lilian and her mother were making the “house” neat. Lilian told her mother the latest news from Greycliff, with much interesting chatter about the Psyche Club, Virgie’s plans, the class work, and other activities. Very sweet and womanly was Lilian this morning. Finally, each found some bit of Christmas handwork to do, and sat down in the living room to discuss the important topic.
“I am trying to think it out, Lilian,” said Mrs. North. “I think that you know how I feel about it. We realize that it is important and serious to you both, and something about which you will finally decide yourselves. And both your father and I appreciate your fine attitude of consulting with us, and listening to our advice for the present. Your happiness and welfare are our first concern. Do you think that if you wear the ring this one happy week among the relatives, you could lay it off during the rest of the school year at Greycliff? I feel pretty sure that Miss Randolph would prefer it. I want you to be a real school girl this year, yet now it is too late to go back to the old relation with Philip. Do you think that you can get your lessons as well?”
“Oh, yes! I’ll not be worrying about Ann Maria now, especially if I may wear the ring here!”
Lilian had scarcely finished her sentence when the telephone sounded, and she dropped her work into her chair while she ran to answer it. There was somebody at the other end of the line who brought out a pleased smile on Lilian’s face as she listened. “Oh, yes, we are up, and just sitting working on Christmas things. How can I answer that over the telephone? Yes, I think you’d better come over at once. All right, wait a minute—Mother, can we go out to lunch with Philip?”
“Most happy,” said her mother.
“Yes, Philip, she will; says ‘Most happy.’ Yes, it is pretty nearly all right. Come over and talk to her about it. Very well. Goodbye.”
Lilian came back smiling mischievously. “I told him to come over and talk it over with you. He is afraid to do it, I know.”
“Naughty child, you know that I can’t say anything disagreeable to him.”
“You won’t want to. Philip Van Buskirk is warranted to melt the hardest heart.”
“Yours, my daughter, was not hard to begin with!”