They all descended to the first floor, where the boys joined the men in the library, and the girls went outside for a parting ramble and chat, with Prince gambolling around them.
"There are things about the Torchlights we might copy," remarked Laura. "They take in members whether they like them or not, and try to help them."
"We might invite Hermione and Vera to start with," suggested Ivy.
"That would be kind. I think they would like it," said Alene.
They had reached the grassy terrace beneath the apple-trees, and Ivy, with a sudden recollection exclaimed,
"Girls, it was here we first met, or I should say parted, for Net and I ran so hard we lost our apples in tumbling over the wall, leaving poor Lol to be eaten up by Prince."
"That was the fifteenth of June. I remember it so well," said Laura.
"We have had some lovely times together since then," said Alene.
"To-day was the loveliest of all," declared Ivy.
Then Alene uttered hopefully a prediction that in time proved a true one: