"Lilian do you mean never to have a lover? It is the happiest time for a girl. He takes you out and buys you pretty little things. He gave me that work box on Christmas, and a ring afterward. I don't see how God could have let him get killed--we were so happy. He wasn't your father. Both his babies died. Do you suppose he found them in heaven?" Mrs. Boyd began to cry. Her mind wandered considerably now. Lilian tried to read to her but she broke in with irrelevant snatches that had been pleasures to her long ago until she dropped off to sleep again. There was a rather joyous time in the morning. Mrs. Barrington remembered her household and the girls who had been compelled to stay. Lilian gave thanks for two beautiful volumes of poetry. Miss Arran remembered her with a box of very nice stationery, Mrs. Dane with some handkerchiefs, Mrs. Barrington went to the dinner at Crawford House, but the girls complained of the dullness. Lilian was so used to being sufficient for herself, so fond of reading that the day passed even if it had no Christmas joys. It was very happy at Crawford House. Vincent had arrived in the morning and added to their joy. Zay was bright and animated and the three planned many delights for the future. "There ought to be some young people," said the mother, "but we couldn't have both and yours will come later on. I wanted these dear old friends who have been such a comfort in my hard and trying years and then I shall begin over with you and be young again." "And I was proud enough when I found I was put on the list for a three years' cruise," declared Willard, "and now the thought quite unmans me. But we may stop at some place where you can all take a flying trip." "It can't be next summer," said Vincent. "I have engaged them for my grand occasion. Next June I shall be a full fledged soldier and there will be the ball in which Zay will shine a star of the first magnitude." "And set the day after," laughed the girl. "Oh, Phil Rosewald wants to come and half a dozen others, but I suppose you can't invite so many sisters and cousins." Vincent drew his face in an amusing half frown. "Is Phil as funny as ever? Doesn't she sometimes jump over the traces? And how about the lovers? I think she had them ever since she stepped out of the cradle." "In the multitude there is safety," said their father. Mrs. Barrington could not keep her thoughts from the lonely girl watching beside the dying woman. Oh, how would she get to her true place in the bright happy group. For years she had been as dead to them. Would Zay, who had garnered all the love and tenderness in her own girlish heart, be willing to share it?