“Not a word. And Captain Van Horne’s unit is right in the thickest of the battles.”
Lilian joined the Van Buskirk “unit” the next day, spending much of the time up in the rose room where Hilary sat with her foot up, doing her best to take care now in order to be around with the rest soon. Mrs. Van Buskirk and Aunt Hilary came and went, all the ladies knitting vigorously.
“I must try to match this yarn,” Hilary was saying. “Isn’t it funny that there are different shades of khaki. I thought I had enough to finish the sweater, but haven’t. I do hope that I can match it exactly.”
“Listen!” said Cathalina.
Lilian jumped to her feet. Cathalina reached for her and drew her out into the hall. Hilary looked at Aunt Hilary and dropped her work, wondering if Campbell could possibly come with Philip, whose voice they now heard downstairs. Yes, who was that asking, “Is it all right to go up now, Aunt Sylvia?” The answer must have been affirmative, for rapid steps were coming up the stairs, and Hilary limped out of the room so quickly that she met him at the top.
There was no question of being engaged or not engaged. Campbell had just heard of Hilary’s accident and gathered her up, fairly carrying her to the end of the hall where there was a convenient window-seat.
“Hilary, Hilary, were you badly hurt?”
“No, Campbell,—but how tired you look!”
It took only a few happy minutes for all explanations and expressions that were necessary for a complete understanding.
“I did not mean, Hilary, to tell you this until I came back,—but I couldn’t help it.”