"The 'Clarion.' Father says the other papers won't publish anything about it, but he can't stop the 'Clarion.'"
"I can," said Miss Esmé Elliot confidently.
The heiress to the Pierce millions lifted her woe-begone face. "You?" she cried incredulously. "How?"
"I've got a pull," said Esmé, dimpling.
A light broke in upon her suppliant. "Of course! Hal Surtaine! But father has been to see him and he won't promise a thing. I don't see what he's got against me."
"Don't worry, dear. Perhaps your father doesn't understand how to go about it."
"No," said the other thoughtfully. "Father would try to bully and threaten. He tried to bully me!" Miss Pierce stamped a well-shod foot in memory of her manifold wrongs. Then feminine curiosity interposed a check. "Esmé! Are you engaged to Hal Surtaine?"
"No, indeed!" The girl's laughter rang silvery and true.
"Are you going to be?"
"I'm not going to be engaged to anybody. Not for a long time, anyway. Life is too good as it is."