very soon, Mr. Lloyd. But if you both are willing to wait, and if
time proves this to be the real feeling, I don't believe you'll
find me hard on you!"

"That's all I ask, sir!" Martin said, resuming his seat and his
dinner. And for the rest of the meal harmony and gaiety reigned.

Alix shot an occasional glance at Anne, who was flushed, but as
usual busy and charming over the tea cups. Alix knew that Anne was
inwardly writhing; indeed she felt a sort of emotional shock
herself. Yesterday the mere talk of a lover for any one of them
was delightfully thrilling and vague--to-night Cherry was actually
engaged! The older girls' romantic speculations were flat enough
now; Cherry had the actual thing.

There was no jealousy in Alix's heart, as there definitely was in
Anne's, of the man. But Alix felt envious of the superior
experience--why, he would kiss Cherry! No man had ever kissed
Alix. Cherry would be the admired and envied girl among all the
girls; married at eighteen, it was so beautifully flattering and
satisfying to be married young!

She looked at her father's face, a troubled face to-night. He was
watching the lovers regretfully; he did not disguise it. Their
quick plans, the readiness with which they solved the tremendous
problems to come, the light-heartedness with which they were
hurrying toward the future--had he and the older Charity been like
that, twenty-five years ago, when they had had supper at her
mother's house, and told the great news? He remembered himself, an
eager, enthusiastic lover--had he really given better promise then