The first day she allowed Gaston to monopolise, and then began his torture. She declared there were others with whom she must be friendly. She determined to give a ball to Helen the next week, and began preparations.
It was a new business for Gaston, but he did his best to please her, in a pathetic half-hearted sort of way. He ran all sorts of errands, and executed her orders with tact.
“Oh! Sallie let the ball go. I don’t care for it. I can do nothing to ever repay you for the good time I’ve been having,” said Helen as they sat in her room one night.
“We are going to have it, I tell you. I don’t care how much Mr. Gaston sulks. I’m not taking orders from him.”
“No, but you’d like to—you know it.”
“What an idea!”
“You know you like him better than all the others put together.”
“Nonsense. I’m as free as a bird.”
“Then what are you blushing for?”
“I’m not.” But her face was scarlet.