Martin indulged in a long laugh. “Don’t let him hear you, or he will think that you do not appreciate his years and new dignities. As a matter of fact, more than fifty per cent. of the students here are engaged.”
“How unutterably foolish.”
“Why, pray?”
“Because they are too young to know what they want, or what kind of women they really like. If they studied harder, they would not be getting into so much mischief.”
“Then you think the boys should wait until–”
“Until they are not boys,” finished Dolly abruptly. “Come and let us hunt up the others.”
And for the remaining days of the visit, Dolly was unapproachable, though why she acted just so, was a matter which she herself could not have explained very satisfactorily.
There had been considerable discussion over the summer plans. The Aldens and Newbys went to the Thousand Isles finally, though Mr. Alden insisted that another year they must try the seashore.
Rob Steele had gone directly from Harvard to Philadelphia, and was working hard in Mr. Newby’s office. He had not broken down during his senior year, but he had been very near doing so. Later in the summer he and Fred might go camping for a fortnight in the Adirondacks, but he refused all invitations to the Islands. “He could afford neither the time nor the money, for such a delightful outing.”
Constance and her mother had gone to England for the summer. Margaret Hamilton and her mother were spending the warm weather at a pleasant farmhouse near Westover. Dolly and Beth heard from both the girls frequently.