“Yes, and one will miss a lot of the hazing, but girls don’t make it as bad as the boys do, and I suppose I’ll get to be as fond of college or university life as I am of dear old Greycliff, though that does not seem possible.”
“What sort of a school are you going to, one of the girls’ colleges or a co-educational school?”
“That isn’t decided yet. It depends on what Father thinks about it. He and Mother are still discussing it, and Mother says that Father has to decide the matter. I have such wonderful parents that I am sure what they decide will be just the thing.”
By this time the other councillor from Boothbay, with Frances and Marion, had strolled out to where some games had been started, leaving Campbell and Hilary still talking over their ice cream.
“I’m going West on a short trip with Uncle Mart at Christmas time, Hilary. Would you mind if I stopped off to see you, or will you be at home?”
“Would I mind!” exclaimed Hilary. “Why, Campbell, I’d love to have you come. No, after having been away nearly all summer, I shall plan to stay with the folks at Christmas time. And Father and Mother have been just aching to have you and Philip and some of the rest come to be entertained at our house,—ever since they have listened to my description of the Stuarts and Van Buskirks, and all the sisters, cousins and aunts that you have. We have so few near relatives.”
Campbell was wishing that Hilary would not be quite so general in her expressions of interest in the Van Buskirks and Stuarts, but could not but be satisfied with the heartiness of her response to his suggestion of a visit at Christmas time. Hilary was no coquette, but it was a source of her attraction, so far as Campbell was concerned, that he could trust her sincerity. The fact that Hilary was interested in real living more than many of the city girls whom Campbell knew was another source of interest to him. “Hilary talks sense,” Campbell had remarked to Philip. “She likes a good time as well as anybody, but that isn’t the main thing in life, as she sees it. It’s some fun to send candy or flowers to a girl who will really appreciate it, and not pat herself on the back and think ‘How sweet I must be to have the boys sending me flowers!’” And Philip had thought of another girl of the same true sort to whose winning he intended to devote himself.
“Well, I’ll have it to look forward to, then,” said Campbell, in reply to Hilary’s cordiality. “I shall write to find out if it is all right when the time comes. You don’t mind not playing the games out there,” he continued, waving his hand toward the boys and girls.
“No; I much prefer this,” acknowledged Hilary demurely.
“I have a fine plan, at least it will be fine for me if you consent, and I came up in a canoe on purpose. Do you suppose you can get permission to go back with me?”