“That is a very fine theory, Miss Van Buskirk!” said Betty, opening a letter from home.
“Wait till you get a letter from Donald,” said Cathalina. “Then we’ll see what remarks the rest of us can make.”
“All right,” said Betty. “Have you opened your letter from the academy?”
Then Cathalina did blush a little, having hoped that the note from Captain Van Horne would escape comment. “Not yet,” she said.
“I’m horrid,” said Betty, repentantly. “It isn’t even polite to make such personal remarks. My good spirits do carry me away!”
“You’re forgiven,” said Cathalina, “on condition that you let us read on in peace.”
Silence descended on the room for a space. Then Lilian rose and went into the bedroom which she shared with Hilary. Betty remarked that she was going to hunt up Diane and left. Cathalina asked Hilary if she would like to read “Bob’s letter,” and passed it over. Hilary read and commented. “He writes a good letter, doesn’t he? It is full of fun, but very well expressed. I like Robert Paget. Did you ever wonder whether he were not related to Helen?”
“I never even thought of the names being the same. Isn’t that just like me?”
“I hadn’t thought of it till I got back to school and saw Helen again. But I have forgotten to ask her.”
“They are not from the same place, but are both from the South and might easily be cousins. Helen hasn’t any brother, I think. I never heard her mention one, at least; but I pay so little attention sometimes to family relations that she might have half a dozen relatives that I wouldn’t know about.”