"It annoys me that you seems afraid to tell it," I said.
"I'm not afraid, not the least bit. I'm a little ashamed, though. You see mother is....."
"Don't dare adopt an apologizing attitude towards your mother. Hasn't she done everything in the world for us?"
"There are some things one would rather do for oneself, girlie. I had quite set my heart on Perry Arnold being best man at our wedding."
"And so he shall be."
"I wrote him a week ago, and his answer came this morning. He was delighted, poor chap! He's in Denver, now, and could be here in three days." "You won't need him for three months," I warned. "But why can't you have him, dear?"
"Because mother has already engaged the duke in that capacity."
"Not really?"
"It's the gospel truth. Perry will think me no end of a snob. I won't know what explanation to make."
"Nonsense! I'll explain it to him myself."