“He and Maxwell go as soon as possible. You see, they are right up in military drill and discipline, and will make valuable officers.”
“Lilian and Cathalina haven’t heard from Philip, and Hilary hasn’t heard from Campbell for days, and they are sure that there is some reason—though both boys promised their parents that they would finish the school year and get their diplomas. You see, they graduate this year.”
“Oh, graduate! What is school in comparison with this?”
While Donald and Betty talked, the three girls who had passed came down the hall, Cathalina with a telegram in her hand. “Do you suppose they’ll care?” asked Lilian, thinking about how little she and Philip would want to be interrupted when time together was so short.
“Of course, they won’t,” said Cathalina, “for we’ll not stay but a minute. Donald will be interested, I think. Excuse me, people,” she continued, as they joined Betty and Donald, “but I have just received a telegram from Philip, and Lilian has another one. Hilary had one from Campbell, too, and they are coming on to see us Saturday!”
The girls had all greeted Donald, Cathalina with a bow as she spoke, while Donald had risen and brought up a chair or two to face the bench.
“Some more folks going to war,” remarked Donald.
“Yes, that must be it,” assented Cathalina. “These telegrams are all from New York, and it is not vacation. I imagine that they have gotten permission to leave school and are going to enlist.”
“I am sure of it,” said Lilian. “Phil’s last letter was chiefly a protest against his promise.”
“Campbell wrote that he was released from his,” said Hilary. “His mother said that ordinarily education was the most important thing for young people. But when a boy was of age and felt it his duty to go, he should not be bound by a promise.”