“Lee has surrendered.”
The Doctor nodded his head in quick appreciation.
“It’s high time,” he answered. But the girls held bravely to the traditions of Calvert Hall. Never by smile or look or word did they show that they knew of the reconciliation. Not then. Not until the drive home was finished, and they had waved a temporary good-bye to the MacDowells and the Doctor and Miss Calvert at the creek crossing, did they dare to give vent to their feelings, but when they finally reached their own private quarters, Ted tossed her cap high in the air, and Polly began to dance a Virginia reel with Sue.
“Well, they’ve made it up, that’s sure,” said Ruth, meditatively, “but what puzzles me is, what the trouble was in the first place.”
“I know,” cried Polly, pausing to take breath. “I’ve known for days. And I couldn’t tell. But as long as it’s all over, I will. Let’s sit down in front of the fire, and comb our hair and talk.”
The nights had been cool ever since their arrival, and a few blazing spruce knots just took the shiver off, as Sue said, so they sat around its blaze now, clad in kimonos, combing out their hair, as girls love to do, and talking. And the old love-tale of Diantha Calvert and her Northern sweetheart gained a fresh tenderness and charm, told there in the dancing firelight. When Polly had finished, there was a long silence, while blue eyes and gray eyes and brown stared dreamily at the fire. Then Ruth said softly:
“‘Many waters cannot quench love.’”
“Did you hear what Mrs. Sandy said, when I asked her if she was surprised?” Polly reached over and gave a big log a friendly poke so that it rolled over and became a blazing ledge. “She said, with such a look, you know, all glad and proud and kind of relieved too: ‘No, honey, not very much. I always knew it would happen some day. Love will bring to us that which is ours if we trust.’ Isn’t that beautiful to remember? Love will bring to us that which is ours, if we trust.”
“Well, I’m trusting that those bones will turn out to be a perfect and well-preserved dinosaur,” proclaimed Sue, rising, “and it’s getting late.”
They left the cabin-door open now, with the screen door fastened, and long after the rest were asleep, Ruth lay wide awake thinking. A head raised cautiously from Polly’s pillow.