“For shame!” cried Eve, in a hot fury. “It’s an actual sin to talk in that way. If a handsome young man loves you, and you love him, why, you ought to marry him if he hadn’t a dollar in the world!”
Gertie and the worldly-wise Bess laughed at their younger sister’s enthusiasm.
“Now, there’s Rex Lyon, for instance,” persisted Eve, absolutely refusing to be silenced. “I would wager a box of the best kid gloves either one of you would marry him to-morrow, if he were to ask you, if he hadn’t a penny in his pocket.”
“Pshaw!” reiterated Gertie, and Bess murmured something about absurd ideas; but nevertheless both sisters were blushing furiously to the very roots of their hair. They well knew in their hearts what she said was perfectly true.
“Eve,” said Bess, laying her hand coaxingly on the young rebel’s arm, “Gertie and I want you to promise us something. Come, now, consent that you will do as we wish, that’s a good girl.”
“How can I promise before I know what you want?” said Eve, petulantly. “You might want the man in the moon, after you’ve tried and failed to get his earthly brethren, for all I know!”
“Eve, you are actually absurd!” cried Bess, sharply. “This is merely a slight favor we wish you to do.”
“If you warn her not to do a thing, that is just what she will set her heart upon doing,” said Gertie, significantly.
By this time Eve’s curiosity was well up.
“You may as well tell me anyhow,” she said; “for if you 115 don’t, and I ever find out what it is, I’ll do my very worst, because you kept it from me.”