"No, I am not!"
"But everybody says so!"
"Everybody is mistaken."
Dolly's eyes beamed with joy as she cried gayly:
"Then you are free, Mr. Devereaux?"
He answered with a happy laugh:
"Free as the wind—free to look at Miss Lester as much as I choose—or as long as she will allow me."
This did not please Dolly at all, so she said spitefully:
"I dare say she doesn't care whether you look at her or not! She has no eager eyes for any one but that handsome Mr. Dean, and he has been standing beside her ever since he gave her the prize, and walked back to her seat with her, just as if they were lovers."
"You are trying to make me jealous, Miss Dolly!" he laughed, unwilling for her to perceive the pain she gave him.