Nan laughed.
"That's rude—though a fairly accurate statement. But still, Penny dear, just to please me, will you marry Ralph?"
"No"—with promptitude—"I certainly won't. If I married him at all, it would be to please myself."
"Well," wheedled Nan, "wouldn't it please you—really?"
"We can't always do as we please in this world."
Nan grimaced.
"Hoots, lassie! Now you're talking like Aunt Eliza."
Penelope continued brushing her hair serenely and vouchsafed no answer.
Nan renewed the attack.
"It amounts to this, then—that I've got to get married in order to let
Ralph marry you!"