"That was too many, Peachie. You ought not--"
"I know, dearest honey mother. I ought not to do heaps of things I do do, but after all, what do I care what those people think of me? All they can say is that I flirted with him--"
"Or that he flirted with you," laughed her mother.
"Oh, yes, they will say that, never fear. And yet--"
"And yet what, my darling? Here we are at home."
"And yet he took Cousin Lois and Carolina to Jacksonville on his yacht, and he asked me to go, but I said I had to get back to you, and he was with us all the rest of the time we were there--"
Her mother turned and looked at her.
"And he is coming to see me on his way back."
As Mrs. La Grange stepped from the carriage with the air of a queen descending from her chariot, she put her arm around her daughter's waist and said:
"I think I have to be proud of a dear, generous little girl whose loyalty caused an otherwise pleasant week to be spoiled."