“Yes, yes; that’s true,” Hildegarde hastened to heal the wound.
“And, anyhow, I don’t think it’s kind of you to run Louis down. I am always very nice about Jack.”
The end of it was that Cheviot came more and more to the Mar house, and seemed so diverted when he found the lively Bella there, that Hildegarde gave herself up without reserve to the three-cornered friendship.
He took the girls boating and organized parties to the Tule Lands, and was altogether a most invaluable ally in the agreeable pursuit of being a young lady in her first season.
Still, when Bella praised him absolutely without moderation, “Y-yes,” Hildegarde would respond, “he is nice, only—”
“Only what?” says Miss Bella, instantly on the defensive.
“Well, you know I prefer big men.”
“Of course you do. It’s being so massive yourself. But he’s exactly the right size for me.”
“Oh, yes, and he’s quite the nicest of all the Valdivia boys.”
“Well, that’s going pretty far,” says Bella, with an edge in her voice.