“Yes. Our families seem to meet by chance, don’t they?”
“Philip said that he is a fine fellow. He took Dick and the Judge out home later for dinner, and Father and the Judge had a great talk over the war, politics, business and everything. I say ‘Dick’ as if I knew your brother, Lilian, but Philip called him that in the letter and I have heard you speak of him so for so long. I wouldn’t think of addressing him so familiarly.”
“We have been trying to call him ‘Richard’ lately, since he is so grown up, but can’t remember to do it.”
“‘Richard’ is prettier,—‘Richard North’,” commented Cathalina.
“Dick wrote me a little scribble, too,” said Lilian. “I was so surprised, because I rarely hear from him. We get news of each other through Mother, of course. He said that next to Mother, Mrs. Van Buskirk was the most lovely woman he ever met.”
Cathalina looked pleased at this. “O, isn’t that nice? and that he is so loyal to his own mother, too.”
“You must meet our mother, Cathalina, and it would be nice if they knew each other.” Lilian did not mention that she, too, had heard from Philip. She intended to tell both Cathalina and Hilary, who was now her closest friend, but the conversation in the pine grove, and the letters, were just her own now.
“Here we are at Boothbay. I believe that Thorn Island is the name of the boys’ island. We are going around to the other dock, aren’t we? These are certainly high rocks. What a great old river the Kennebec is! Where’s our little Canadian warbler?—O, Betty!”
Betty had been sitting up in front with Marion and Frances, but joined Cathalina as soon as they landed.
The boys and their councillors had made great plans for the entertainment of the girls. The picnic meal was at noon, instead of the later time when it was celebrated at Merrymeeting. With great gallantry the boys waited upon the girls, who enjoyed every minute. The girls had been reminded by their head councillor that morning at breakfast that they should show their appreciation of the courtesies offered at Boothbay, and that they should consider how much easier it always was for the girls to accept attentions than it was for the younger and shy boys to offer them.