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A Marriage Below Zero.
59

just yet, I vote that we go on being friends, and say nothing about it."

"You can be as flippant as you like," said Miss Bishop severely, " but I am going to talk to you just the same. You remember, Elsie, at the beginning of the season, how miserable you were at all the festivities, and how you dreaded the silly men, as you called them, whom you were obliged to meet. I told you of Damon and Pythias. I introduced you to Arthur Ravener."

"Well?"—impatiently.

"I never imagined that the introduction would lead to anything."

"No?" I was really boiling over with rage, but I tried to conceal that fact.

"No. But it has. People are coupling your name with that of Arthur Ravener. No, don't interrupt me. If I did not care for you, I should say nothing. Look here, Elsie. I am quite certain that you will never be happy, if you do anything rashly. Arthur Ravener is very unpopular. The men won't look at him. I was speaking to my cousin Ned about him the other day, since I have noticed how you encouraged him."