“And yours wasn’t,” added Ethel. “I supposed it was a fact ever since last summer, but when I visited you that Sunday I was positive of it.”
“And I knew it all along, too!” Alice boasted.
“Well,” returned Lily, “since you’re all such clever guessers, tell me which girl in the patrol is engaged—besides me!”
The girls all opened their eyes wide in interest and stopped eating to look around the group and study the expressions of the others. No one, apparently, betrayed any guilt.
“Who?” demanded Alice excitedly. “Tell us quick, Lil!”
“Oh, you’re so wise that I don’t have to tell you!”
“Well, let’s figure it out,” began Ethel. “Doris and Mae are married—you’re not either of you contemplating a divorce, are you?”
Both girls shook their heads emphatically.
“Lily has announced her engagement, and I know I’m not the one. That leaves Daisy, Floss, Alice and Marj.”
Marjorie smiled enigmatically; it would be fun to tease them.
“Are you the one, Marj?” Alice persisted.
“She is!” exclaimed Daisy. “Look how guilty she looks!”
“No, girls, she isn’t,” Lily answered for her. “I give you my scout word of honor, unless something has happened since we left college. But I won’t hold you in suspense any more: I was only teasing you!”
“Then nobody is?” Alice inferred, a trifle disappointed.
“Goodness, isn’t one engagement enough for you in one day?” asked Ethel.
“Aren’t you really keeping anything from us, Marj?” Alice repeated.
“No,” laughed Marjorie. “Absolutely nothing. I have taken a solemn vow not even to think of marriage until I get my Girl Scout troop firmly established.”
“Good gracious, Marj! You’ll never get them ‘established,’ as you say!” remarked Florence. “If you succeed in holding them together for a whole week after the basketball season is over, I’ll treat you to a dinner at the Ritz!”
“Thanks,” replied Marjorie confidently. “Better start to save your money. And, to go back to the old subject, I mean to train for more scout work. I’m going to take a six weeks’ course at the national Leaders’ Camp this summer and hope to land a job next year.”
“Marj has had too much attention at this luncheon,” Ethel abruptly announced. “We must concentrate on the bride-to-be. Tell us about your plans, Lil.”