For half an hour Jane dilated on her western visit to the Lakeside Farm.
“Oh, you lucky girl!” cried Ethel. “What a chance you had! To think of it! Three weeks, lonely rides, moonlight, and not a soul to butt in! Oh, Jane! I only wish I had had such a chance! Did nothing happen, Jane? Oh, come on now, you are too awfully oysteresque. Didn't he come across at all?”
Jane's face glowed a dull red, but she made no pretence of failing to understand Ethel's meaning. “Oh, there is no nonsense of that kind with Larry,” she said. “We are just good friends.”
“Good friends!” exclaimed Ethel indignantly. “That's just where he is so awfully maddening. I can't understand him. He has lots of red blood, and he is a sport, too. But somehow he never knows a girl from her brother. He treats me just the way he treats Bruce and Leslie. I often wonder what he would do if I kissed him. I've tried squeezing his hand.”
“Have you?” said Jane, with a delighted laugh. “What did he do?”
“Why, he never knew it. I could have killed him,” said Ethel in disgust.
“He is going away to Chicago,” said Jane abruptly, “to your friends, the Wakehams. Mr. Wakeham is in mines, as you know. Larry is to get two thousand dollars to begin with. It is a good position, and I am glad for him. Oh, there I see Mr. MacLean and Frank Smart coming in.”
When the party had settled down they discussed the Class lists and prize winners till Dr. Brown appeared.
“Shall we have dinner soon, Jane?” he said as she welcomed him. “I wish to get through with my work early so as to take in the big political meeting this evening. Mr. Allen is to speak and there is sure to be a crowd.”
“I shall have it served at once, Papa. Larry is coming, but we won't wait for him.”