Angela was delighted to find her brother had finally appreciated the recklessness of his attachment to Ruth, when there were far richer girls in the party. She would have selected Dodo or Polly, had he asked her to decide for him, but Eleanor was better than Ruth. So she seconded all her brother’s attempts to kidnap Eleanor whenever the entire party wished to go anywhere or do a thing.
“It’s a wonder your brother did not fall in love with these four pretty girls at one time—and save trouble,” said Nancy Fabian, laughingly to Angela.
“Now, Nancy, don’t show your jealousy,” returned Angela.
“Me—jealous! Why, Angie, you know I refused Jimmy three or four times before these girls ever put in an appearance. To accuse me of jealousy when I hail the deliverance from his attentions is ridiculous of you.”
Polly overheard these remarks and determined that she would spare her friend any further annoyances from Jimmy. “Here Nolla was losing all the wonderful sights they came expressly to Europe to see, and a foolish boy was using that time for a flirtation.” Polly mentioned this to Eleanor the first time she got her away from Jimmy.
“Oh, but he heaps such good candies on one, Poll,” laughed Eleanor, apologetically. “Let his love die a natural death, and then there will be no danger of its ghost ever bobbing up to frighten me.”
“But you’re giving this precious time to a bally fool, and missing Mr. Fabian’s rare lessons on information you’ll need to know,” declared Polly, angrily.
“I can’t help it, Poll. You’ll see how it is when your turn comes with Jimmy,” laughed Eleanor, teasingly.
Polly’s eyes snapped fire. Then she threatened something that had been alluded to before, between Eleanor and herself. “I plan to write letters home tonight when we stop at Glasgow. I’m going to tell Paul Stewart what a dreadful flirt you have turned out to be!”
Eleanor gasped, but was brave. “Oh yes, and also tell him what a wonderful girl his old playmate, Dodo Alexander, is, and how, with all her money, he can easily win her and live in ease the rest of his life!”