Lilian scarcely knew how to feel about these vacation days. It was so strange not to be going back to the old home. Yet she was happy, too, to be entering the new experience of a home in the same city with Cathalina, to say nothing of Philip, whom she would see at this holiday time. Judge and Mrs. North had taken an apartment temporarily, perhaps permanently, though both were missing the freedom and space of their former home. It was, however, much easier for Mrs. North to look after a compact apartment than the big two-story and attic place which had been theirs for so many years.

“It seems that I never can have a visit from you, Lil,” said Hilary, on the day of departure from Greycliff. “Last year it was one thing; this year something else.”

“Mother scarcely had any visit with me last summer, you know,” said Lilian.

“Yes, I know, and there are other attractions in New York as well,” and Hilary looked at Lilian with a quizzical little smile.

“I understand that somebody nice is coming to Cincinnati, too,” said Lilian.

“Maybe,” assented Hilary. “Campbell said that he was trying hard to plan it. He will just stop off, you know.”

“Oh, certainly—just accidentally call around, as it were.”

Hilary laughed. “Not very accidentally, I guess.”

“Ready, Lilian?” called Cathalina. “There is the ’bus.”

“Coming!”

Arrived in New York, the girls found two brothers to meet them, Richard North and Philip Van Buskirk, with Phil’s car. Phil was driving, and it must be confessed that he paid more attention to Lilian than to Cathalina, whom he left to Richard, putting Lilian next to himself in the car. Richard and Cathalina exchanged an amused glance, then dismissed Lilian and Philip from their thoughts and had a good visit, while Richard told Cathalina about the North affairs and his good success in the office.

“I think that I am in luck,” said he, “to step into a firm in this city with every chance of making good. And you may be interested in knowing that we have our eyes on another young man. He has been reading with another lawyer a little, but we think that we may be able to offer sufficient inducement to get him to come with us.” Richard’s lips curved into a smile. How he enjoyed using that “we”! And Cathalina was all interest, for she knew a young man who was studying law, going to law school when he could, or reading with a lawyer.

“Of course Dad and his old friends will be in the game for a long time, but they want a pair of us young chaps, and I’d like to work with Van Horne.”

“Captain Van Horne!”

“Yes. I met him at your house, you know.”

“I’ve only seen him a few times since school began, and he didn’t say anything about it.”

“He doesn’t know it, but I feel that he will consider it an opportunity, and if he comes to New York on his vacation, I’ll have him meet my father and his friend.”

“Is your other sister coming to spend Christmas with you? Lilian said that no one had mentioned it, nor answered her questions about it.”

“We have been so busy that I judge Mother hasn’t written very fully to anybody, and I have not written at all. No, it is too far to bring the kiddies in cold weather, and there is a little baby this year.”

Philip, meanwhile, was making arrangements to see as much as possible of Lilian during the vacation. “I don’t know how many family parties they are arranging for this time,” Philip was saying, “but unless you are invited, too, I don’t expect to be among those present. Now, have you any special plans for your time?” Philip was watching the traffic, but his voice was eager.

“No, I haven’t, Philip, except to be with Father and Mother and Dick on Christmas Day, and go to church with them on Sundays.”

“Good. Now, could you let me take you to a lot of things that are going on? There is some music that I know you will enjoy. Suppose I come over this evening with the ‘program,’ and let you make the dates ahead.”

Lilian turned to look at Philip and met a glance that made her drop her eyes. “Do come, Phil,” she said, “I shall be delighted to see you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t say ‘we,’ Lilian,” replied Philip. “And I’d really like to carry you off somewhere tonight, for some ices and cake or something—anything, you know, so we can talk. After I’ve seen the family, of course. Are you too tired?”

“No, indeed. I think it’s lovely of you to want to make me have such a good time.”

“I’m not altogether unselfish, Lilian,” said Philip with a laugh. “I’ve been looking forward to this vacation. I enjoyed having you at our house, but there were so many other people around that I had to play host to. Now there isn’t anybody else?”

“Where is Ann Maria?” asked Lilian, mischievously.

“At Aunt Katherine’s, as usual. Why, Lilian!” exclaimed Philip, as he began to understand the meaning of her question. “Did you—do you think I care especially for Ann Maria?”

But before Lilian could answer that question, Cathalina leaned forward with some remark to Philip, and then they had arrived in front of the apartment building. Saying to both Lilian and Dick that he planned to “run over” in the evening, Philip drove off with Cathalina to the Van Buskirk home, where welcome waited for Cathalina.

Lilian’s heart was not beating in quite normal fashion as Philip asked that last question, but as she rode up in the elevator with Dick she put the matter temporarily out of her mind, and prepared to meet her dear people.

“Oh, what a dear apartment!” she exclaimed, after the first greetings were over. “And here are all our nice old things, Father’s law books and all, and grandmother’s old mahogany. Why, it seems like home, after all. I guess home is chiefly folks and a few of the things you love. And it will be so easy to do things here.”

“I found a good woman to come twice a week, and the rest I shall do myself. Come, see the new gas range; and Father and Dick have brought in all sorts of electrical utensils, toaster, grill—here they are. But when you have rested, I want to hear you sing.”

“Oh, yes. You know I could not keep away from the piano, my beloved piano!—and I have all sorts of pretty new things. Some of them my teacher gave me, and some of them I just picked up from hearing what the other girls sang. Eloise and I have been getting some pretty duets. I thought perhaps Philip and I might sing together, too.”

“Has Philip written to you steadily, Lilian?” asked her mother.

“Yes, about every week.”

“You are pretty young, daughter, for anything serious.”

“Yes, I know it.”

“Are you sure that it may not be Philip’s fine home, and stylish clothing, and the free way in which he can spend money that are attractive?”

“Mother, Philip would be himself, wouldn’t he, if he didn’t have those things? And Phil is really gifted. The first minute we met we began to talk and haven’t it all said yet. He plays wonderfully, and I guess he could make a living at that if he didn’t have any money. Then he has so much good sense, too, and is so interested in his father’s business. He asked me to let him write an accompaniment for that little lullaby I made up, and sang for them last summer, and I’m just crazy to try it. He has it finished, he says. Just wait till you see him. He is coming over to see me tonight. Or perhaps you have met him?”

“No. Mrs. Van Buskirk told me that he would arrive last night. We were invited out there last week. I shall be glad to see the boy who is so interested in my little girl, but I scarcely know what to think about it, Lilian.”

“I don’t believe you need worry, Mother. But I like Philip, better than any boy I know. And he seems so grown up now.”

“This is his last year in college, isn’t it?”

“Yes; and he told me last summer that if we get into the war he has promised his father to finish out the year anyway. Have you met Mrs. Van Ness and the Stuarts and the rest?”

“Yes, a number of the relatives. We put our letters in the church, too, and have met some fine people there. But I have been so busy getting settled that I have had time to think of little else. Several times Mrs. Van Buskirk has telephoned and brought the car around for me. We had lunch together, and went shopping for the apartment. She is charming.”

“Indeed she is, and I know she is thinking the same thing of you. Just wait till I see her. About the first thing she will say is, ‘My dear, what a lovely woman your mother is!’”

Mrs. North laughed. “I am considerably older than she, I think.”

“I don’t know about that. You may be a grandmother, but I scarcely think that our Margery is so much older than Philip.”

“Oh, yes, Lilian. Margery is twenty-five, and has been married four years.”

“That is only a few years older, anyhow. She seems older because of the three babies.”

Evening came, and Philip. Lilian did not know just where she might be taken, but dressed for evening and laid out her pretty new evening wrap, over which she had gone into raptures. It was to have been a Christmas present, but learning of Philip’s plans for Lilian, Mrs. North had decided to give it in advance. For a cruel parent, who did not approve of anything serious in the line of love and marriage for Lilian in the near future, Mrs. North was taking a great deal of interest! “But if you are going around so much this vacation, I suppose you will need it now,” she said.

Although Philip was so accustomed to meeting people, he felt some measure of embarrassment when he met Lilian’s parents. Judge North he knew, and Dick, but Mrs. North would appraise him, he felt, as he came to call upon her daughter so definitely. However, he intended to make a general visit as well, and in the pleasant atmosphere of hospitality, with many things in common as subjects of conversation, Philip’s embarrassment soon passed. Lilian’s piano, newly tuned, had to be tried, and Philip surprised Mrs. North, as people were wont to be surprised when they heard him play. Dick left soon to meet an engagement, and as Philip finished the accompaniment he was playing for Lilian, he whispered, “Shall we go?”

“We are leaving, now, folks,” announced Lilian, bowing to her father’s applause. “Did you like that, Father?”—starting to get her wraps as she spoke.

It was the little electric coupÉ that was parked outside. “Isn’t this fine!” exclaimed Philip as he tucked the robes around Lilian. “Are we really by ourselves going off somewhere? Where would you like to go?”

“I haven’t an idea,” said Lilian. “Anywhere.”

“That is the way I feel about it,” said Philip, “only in a different degree, I fear me. As long as I have you, the place is immaterial. And before we start I want to ask you what you meant by asking me where Ann Maria was. And you did not answer my question.”

“I couldn’t, you know.”

“Yes, I know. But you will answer me now, won’t you?”

“Let me see; what was it?”

Philip hesitated. “Some way, I think you know, don’t you? I asked you if you thought that I cared for Ann Maria.”

“You said ‘especially’.”

“Yes, I thought you would remember!”

“I have been trying to think, Philip, how I would answer that. Because, you see, I should not have asked the first question. I did think, Philip,” continued Lilian, honestly, “that you must care for her, or that there had been some special affection between you.”

“Was it anything that I did?” asked Philip.

“It was more her manner, a sort of taking possession of you. But I must apologize for referring to it at all. It isn’t any of my affair.”

“Oh, it isn’t?” said Philip hopelessly. “Then you didn’t suppose I meant anything when I talked to you in the pine grove at Merrymeeting, or other times?”

“I—I didn’t know—what to think about it all.”

“Cathalina could have told you all about Ann Maria.”

“I didn’t ask her.”

“Didn’t you care enough?”

“Oh, Philip, can’t you understand how a girl feels? I couldn’t!”

“I could; I asked Cathalina all about those boys in your home town, and at the military school.”

“That is very different.”

“I haven’t gone at it in the right way, I suppose. But you are a friend of mine anyhow, aren’t you?”

“I should think I am!” Lilian laughed.

“As far as Ann Maria is concerned, I never have made love to Ann Maria and never shall, but that’s what I am trying to do to you! I thought at first that I ought not to do it. I thought your father and mother would not like to have you in love with me, and perhaps I ought not to try to make you like me. Then the prospect of our getting into the war made me think so all the more. But, Lilian, I can’t stand it. If I go to war and get all shot up I’ll not let you marry me, but I must know whether you can love me a little or not. You are the only girl on earth for me, and I want a chance to be with you this week. I’m asking you to marry me, sweetheart, and I want you to think it over and let me know before the vacation is over.” Philip’s earnest eyes looked into Lilian’s. He evidently had no idea of the high regard in which Lilian held him, for he spoke as if she might have to consider the matter of her affections for some time.

“You take my breath away, Philip,” said Lilian.

“Yes?” inquired Philip. “I’d like to run away with you this minute,” he added. “But the idea of an elopement might not strike you!” Philip had started the little car by this time, and they rolled easily along. “I’m taking you to a quiet little French place where we shall have good things to eat and fine service.”

Over the little table where they sat a long time to visit, Lilian said: “Philip, since you have said so much tonight, and put an end to some of my worries, I want to tell you that you need not be so humble about my liking you.”

“Lilian!” exclaimed Philip under his breath, his eyes lighting up.

“Yes, I believe I’ll tell you how horribly jealous I’ve been of Ann Maria.”

“Honestly? Was that why some of your letters were so cool?”

“Were they? Yes, I suppose so. I’ve trusted you most of the time, though.”

“And you do altogether now?”

“Oh, yes. But you are right about the folks. I’m afraid Mother will think I’m too young to be engaged to you.”

“But how about you, Lilian?”

“I seem to feel pretty grown up, Philip.”

“What does that mean?”

“I can’t imagine any one, Philip, as fine as you are, and in spite of all the common sense I’ve tried to bring to bear upon the subject, thinking that perhaps you did not care for me anyhow, and that Father and Mother would say I couldn’t be married for a long, long time—some way——” Lilian hesitated and blushed, while Philip leaned toward her in anxious anticipation. “Please don’t stop,” he urged whimsically.

“Well, Philip,” Lilian continued soberly, “we seem to belong to each other, just naturally. And I will confess, too, that the best thing about this vacation was that I should see you again!”

“Lilian!” exclaimed Philip again. They were talking in undertones, while playing with their fast melting ice-cream, for the room was warm, if it was winter outside. “I had no idea that I was going to be made so happy this first night of your coming. I thought perhaps I could persuade you, if I tried hard enough! Indeed, I have had the feeling that we belonged to each other, but I scarcely hoped that it might be mutual. Will you have something else?” The waiter was approaching again.

“Nothing more,” said Lilian.

“I’ve something to show you when we get in the car,” said Philip, as with grace he ushered out his lady love. “Oh—I believe I’ll wait till we get home. There is too much to say. You are the most wonderful girl not to keep me worrying all week.”

“When you love people, you don’t want them to be unhappy,” said Lilian.

When they reached the apartment house again and the car was drawn up to the curb, Philip reached in his pocket, drew out a little package and slowly opened it. He took out something, while Lilian gasped in astonishment. “You will think me rather assured of the final outcome, I am afraid, but I wanted to persuade myself that it would be all right, you see. I went into Tiffany’s yesterday. Now the hand, Lilian.”