“Do you want me to tell you the actual truth?” she asked. “Perhaps it will be the best thing I can do. It will be better for you, better for Hal, better for Dick, better for every one.”
Although her heart was seized with apprehension, Doris urged Zona to speak.
“To begin with,” said Zona, “you know it’s true that your father and Hal’s, who have always been true friends, agreed long ago to make a match between you, if possible.”
“I know that,” murmured Doris. “And that’s the very thing I have resented most. As if we had no minds of our own. In France they make such matches, I believe, but not in this country. Any girl with the least spirit would resent it. It’s the very thing to make a girl detest a fellow.”
“But you don’t detest Hal?”
“Well, I thought I did. But for this foolish agreement between our parents I might have liked him very well.”
“Of course you would; you couldn’t help it. He’s a splendid fellow, and he’s done everything for you. All the girls like him, but as soon as you gave him the shake, he would have nothing to do with any of them.”
“I wish he would,” passionately exclaimed Doris. “I’d like him better myself if he would!”
“No doubt of that,” smiled Zona, showing her fine teeth. “At the same time down in your heart you[you] know you like him very well as it is. You have given him the cold shoulder simply because you were provoked over that agreement, and because Dick Merriwell happened to be convenient as a friend. Hal has been too earnest in his attentions, Doris.”
“Not of late. He despises me now.”