"By herself?" said Laura, really startled. "You don't mean without even a maid?"
"So she says."
"Aunt Nelly will never allow it! And, really, it wouldn't be safe. She ought to take Flora along, at least."
Upon which Howard boldly tried Fred's own argument: "Why shouldn't she be alone? She'll have a revolver."
"I wouldn't do it for a million dollars!" said Laura. "And, besides, nobody goes to Lakeville; it's awfully common."
"Fred is above that sort of thing," Howard said. For once the good-natured Laura was affronted.
"I don't pretend to be like Fred—" she began, but he interrupted her:
"You? Of course you're not like Fred! You couldn't do the things she does!"
Laura gave him a cool glance: "I promised this dance to Jack McKnight. Perhaps we'd better start in?"