"Of course I am; but there's no use in standing here to say pretty things to each other, for there is no one to hear."
"Oh, you odd creature!" laughed Mrs. Harrington. "But, really, that man was the strangest, fascinating person—"
"There you go!" interrupted Elsie angrily.
"My dear, there is no one in the room but ourselves."
"I don't care if there is not; I don't want to hear that man's name."
"I can't see why you dislike him so," pursued the widow. "It always seemed to me that he and Elizabeth treated each other oddly—"
Elsie interrupted her, quite pale with anger.
"Mary Harrington," said she, "if you and I are to remain friends, stop this instant. I won't hear another word, nor must the subject come up again."
Mrs. Harrington was quite subdued by her friend's vehemence, and dropped the matter without another allusion to the forbidden subject.
When they went downstairs after the rest of the party were assembled, Mellen began laughing at the widow about the conquest she had made of Mr. Rhodes.