Madge put her arm inside Phil's. "You had better not mention it to Mrs. Curtis, Phil. Mrs. Curtis is the dearest person in the world, but she is so lovely and so rich that she is used always to having her own way. She thinks that we girls are prejudiced against this Mr. Holt because he said the things he did about Tania. By the way, I wonder what the little witch has against him? I mean to ask her some day. But let's not trouble about Philip Holt any more. He is just a toady. I don't care what he says or does. We have done our duty by him for this afternoon at least. He won't join us again. Let's go over to that lovely hill and have a good, old-fashioned talk."
Phil's face cleared. After all, she and Madge could get along much, better without troublesome outsiders.
"Isn't it a wonderful afternoon, Phil?" asked the little captain after they had climbed the little hill and were seated on a grassy knoll. "We can see the ocean over there! Wouldn't you like to be swimming down there under the water, where it is so cool and lovely and there would be nothing to trouble one?"
"What a water-baby you are," smiled Phil, giving her chum's arm a soft pressure. "I sometimes think that you must have come out of a sea-shell. I suppose you are thinking of the old pearl diver again."
"Phil," demanded Madge abruptly, "have you ever thought of what profession you would have liked to follow if you had been born a boy instead of a girl?"
"I do not have to think to answer that," replied Phyllis, "I know. If I were a boy, I should study to become a physician, like my father; but even though I am a girl, I am going to study medicine just the same. As soon as we get through college I shall begin my course."
"Phil," Madge's voice sounded unusually serious, "don't set your heart too much, dear, on my going to college with you in the fall. I don't know it positively, but I think that Uncle is having some business trouble. He and Aunt have been worried for the past year about some stocks they own. I shan't feel that I have any right to let them send me to college unless I can make up my mind that I shall be willing to teach to earn my living afterward. And I can't teach, Phil, dear. I should never make a successful teacher," ended Madge with a sigh.