“Anything but chicken,” returned Marjorie laughingly. “I’m so tired of chicken broth, and spring chicken, that I feel as if I never wanted to taste another. Let’s see. Roast beef, I guess—and a real fancy salad!”
“Ice cream and birthday cake for dessert?” concluded Queenie.
It seemed indeed to Marjorie that Queenie’s words were true, for all day long she continued to be treated as if it were her birthday. Her wishes were consulted upon every detail of the dinner, and her comfort looked out for. She received more flowers than she usually did on her real birthday, and, when John Hadley arrived just before dinner, he capped the climax by presenting her with a tiny jeweler’s box.
“Marjorie,” he began, “I ventured to bring you a pin—a friendship pin, in honor of the occasion. Will you accept it?”
“Of course I will, John!” she replied radiantly, taking the box and opening it. It was a narrow circle, bordered on both edges with the finest, the daintiest, carving.
“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, pinning it upon her dress. “And,” she added softly, “I will always wear it.”
Before the young man could express just how much this promise meant to him, Lily and Dick entered the room. The former had been out to see Marjorie several times during her illness, but not since college had re-opened, and she had a great deal to tell her.
“When are you really coming back, Marj?” she inquired finally, as they went into the dining room. “I’ll die of loneliness if you don’t come soon.”
“I don’t know,” replied her roommate, casting meek glances at Queenie and her mother. “Those two are such tyrants.”
“The last day of April, I believe—if she is strong enough,” answered Mrs. Wilkinson for her, with a sidelong look at Queenie.
“Yes, that’s right,” nodded the younger girl.
“I’m beginning to be worried about my lessons—the classes I’m missing,” said Marjorie. “And my troop, too. But Queenie says that will be all right——”
“Yes, she and I will take care of that, won’t we, Queenie?” Lily assured her.
“But suppose the girls are all scattered by this time—it’s been so long——”
“You’ll see them soon, Miss Wilkinson,” put in Queenie, with another meaning glance at her captain’s mother. “Just mark my words.”
“Yes, I think so,” smiled the older woman.