It was not long before Betty joined the other girls and sat down in their midst, finding them with no idea of studying. Lilian was lying on the couch which made the window-seat. Hilary was sitting with both elbows on the study table, and Cathalina was in a rocking chair, facing her. “Look here, Betty,” said Lilian, and as Betty went over toward her she held out her left hand, on which the diamond of her engagement ring sparkled. “Mother sent it to me. Wasn’t it dear of her! It will make things easier when Philip comes. But it makes me sick about everything. We were going to have such a wonderful time this summer!” Lilian closed her eyes and put her hand over them. The ring flashed as it caught the light from the electric lamp on the table, but Hilary switched it off as she noticed Lilian, remarking that as nobody was going to study right away they would not need it.
“Cheer up, Lil,” said Betty. “We don’t know much of what is coming, I guess, but it doesn’t help any to look ahead. Maybe some of the things won’t happen at all.”
“We were all going to the sea-shore together,” said Cathalina, “but, of course, Father has been telling us that this was coming.”
“Yes, it isn’t as if we had not been thinking of it,” said Hilary, “and I don’t see how we can help anything by worrying. We’ve got to stand by the boys. Let’s get to work at those lessons pretty soon.”
“All right,” said Lilian, jumping up. “Cathalina and I telegraphed right back to Philip, and Hilary to Campbell, so there’s no need of letters. They’ll be here almost before we could get one to them. By the way, Betty, there was a letter for you. We brought it up. It is on your side of the dresser. I forgot it. We stopped and got our mail, and there was this ring for me, so I promptly forgot everything else!”
Betty ran into the bedroom and, turning on the light there, sat down on the bed to read her letter. Then out she came, the letter in her hand. “More news,” said she. “My brother’s enlisted.”
At that moment there was a rap, and Isabel came in, also holding a letter and looking somewhat disappointed. She began to laugh as soon as she was fairly settled, however, and began to tell the girls why. “Did you ever see such an old goose as I am!” she exclaimed. “Here I wrote to Jim, all excited, for fear the boys were going to France next week or something, and now that Jim has written they aren’t I’m disappointed!”