“You are just crazy, you little old Lilian,” said Eloise on this occasion. “There isn’t any Reginald!”
“We know that. ‘Reginald’ is only the distinguished name we have chosen to represent the devoted knight. We ask no confidences, fair lady, at this stage, at least, and only hope that he may be a worthy knight.”
“Knight!” exclaimed Eloise. “Wait, Lilian, here’s my teeny-weeny Christmas present for you.” And Eloise handed Lilian a square, thin package marked “not to be opened till Christmas.”
Eloise and Lilian, as they stood together for a few moments, were such pretty examples of opposite types. Lilian so fair, like a china shepherdess, though vivid and full of life, and Eloise, dark-eyed, red-lipped and sparkling. Eloise had been embroidering pretty corners on linen handkerchiefs for her friends.
“O, you dear child,” said Lilian, “I’ll have to wait till I come back to give you my remembrance, but I know just what it will be.”
“I ’spect you know what this is,” said Eloise, “because you saw me doing one for Cathalina. But every little stitch was put in for you, with oodles of love!”
Isabel came into Lakeview Suite with the air of a conqueror and dropped into a corner of the window seat out of the way of packing and the general “mess,” as Hilary called it. “I’m all ready,” announced Isabel.
“Smart child,” said Hilary. “I have to get myself ready and finish packing my bag. I’m disappointed that Lilian has to go right home.”
“Virgie is finishing up. Avalon and Olivia have gone downstairs to wait for the ’bus.”
“Mercy! It’s an hour at least before it goes. Their train goes half an hour later than ours, too. They’ll have plenty of time to wait.”