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A Marriage Below Zero.
39

ly, and I suppose he thought that settled it, as he dropped the subject. I noticed that he seemed to be eagerly searching for some one in the crowd, and at last I saw his eyes rest upon his unprepossessing friend.

"Are you afraid your friend is not enjoying himself?" I asked, rather cheekily I admit.

He reddened slightly. "Captain Dillington always enjoys himself," he said quietly. "He is very happy in society."

I remembered Letty's story of Damon and Pythias, and longed to know something of these two young men, one of whom at least was different from the ordinary drawing-room specimen. Arthur Ravener was certainly attractive, and I felt I was going to be interested in him, so I must be excused if I showed too much curiosity.

"How rarely you find two really sincere friends," I remarked, rather sentimentally. "The present time seems to be wonderfully unsuited to such a tie."

"That is true"—very laconically.

"I think there is nothing so beautiful as friendship," I went on, with persistence.