“What kind of a whistle?” laughed Donald.
“One that the referees blow when we have basket ball or anything.”
Philip had asked to be the host at Greycliff Inn, where the party had dinner. The village was enough of a country town to be able to furnish the finest of foods, if it lacked some of the city ideas. The inn was a new place, clean and quiet, with pleasant parlors, where they visited until called to dinner, ordered beforehand by Philip. Here the visiting was general. As Captain Van Horne and Dr. Norris were nearly of an age, Cathalina found herself drawn into conversation with them, and discussing, as she told the girls afterward, “things she didn’t know anything about.”
Then came the canter home in the twilight. Philip and Campbell were to stay over Sunday, leaving early Monday morning. Captain Van Horne was leaving, with Lieutenant Maxwell, very shortly, but expected to visit Greycliff before that time. Captain Van Horne confirmed the rumor that the military school was to close earlier than the time noted in the catalogue. Donald announced to Betty that he was coming over to Greycliff every time he could get off until he left for home—with her permission.
“You have a standing invitation,” replied Betty, “and I think that Miss Randolph will be good to all our ‘departing heroes’!”
Lilian and Philip, though they had the best horses, lagged behind the rest, till Cathalina had to gallop back and tell them to hurry if they were to get in by the study bell, as directed. And just as they entered the grounds it rang.
CHAPTER XVIII
TO THE RESCUE
Life to some of the girls at Greycliff seemed “stale, flat and unprofitable” after Philip and Campbell, Captain Van Horne, Donald, and the rest of the boys and instructors at the military academy had gone. The school at Greycliff continued several weeks after the other school was closed. “I can think of nothing better for you,” declared Miss Randolph in a chapel talk, “than to stay here and work while the nation and your homes are in this turmoil. I appreciate all the thoughts that call you homeward, but it will not be long before you can go. The prizes for excellence will soon be awarded, and we must make this Commencement worth while for those who have earned them.” Indeed there was nothing else to do but to continue as nearly as possible in the ordinary school schedule. Old amusements began again to have their charm, especially in the beautiful environment of Greycliff. The outdoor sports engaged the girls in their free moments. As soon as the ice had gone out of the little river and the spring freshets were over, canoeing became a popular sport, and the girls who had been together at camp during the previous summer were especially good in it. There was a new and larger boathouse this year, on the river, and more canoes than before were available.
One especially warm day, Cathalina and Hilary were having a talk. They were sitting where the rise of ground from the shore of the river jutted out a little over the stream, and a tree recently felled made a rustic seat. They had just come up from the beach through the wood, and seeing Isabel in a canoe, strolled down from the wood to watch her.
“Take off your cloak, Cathalina,” said Hilary, “and let this June sun dry your bathing suit. It feels fine. The water was cold, wasn’t it?”