Sophy laughed out.
"Oh, Sue," she cried, "that's the first old-maidish thing I ever heard you say!"
"Old maids are very wise sometimes," returned Miss Pickett calmly. "The Delphian Oracle was an old maid as far as I can make out."
Sophy said in a disappointed voice:
"Sue ... don't you believe in friendship between men and women?"
"I certainly do. No one has stauncher men friends than I have."
"Then why on earth don't you think I can have them?"
Miss Pickett twinkled.
"'Twasn't a question of them," she said demurely. "There's safety in numbers. I was referring to this particular one."
Sophy said reproachfully: