"But I can't do that—couldn't now, even if I wanted to. It's too late."
"Then I'm not going to the party with you."
"But Linda, dear," put in Miss Carlton, going towards the screen door in her embarrassment at being a witness to the quarrel, "it's too late to arrange to go with anybody else. All the other girls already have their partners!"
"I'll go with you, Auntie!" replied the girl, complacently. "Lots of girls go with their parents."
"Very well," agreed her aunt, disappearing into the living-room, with the unpleasant thought that it was only the unpopular girls who were forced into such a situation.
As soon as she had gone, Ralph came over to Linda's chair. But he was afraid to touch even her hand—she looked so aloof and determined.
"Linda—after all we've been to each other——" he began.
She stood up, holding her head high.
"I think you'll have to excuse me, Ralph," she said. "I'm very busy."
"All right," he returned, sullenly. "Have it your own way, then! I'll get Louise to go with me."