“There has never been the suggestion of such a thing. Why you and Dolly Ravenden both insist on believing that Petit Père wants to marry me, is—it’s stupid!” said the girl indignantly.
“Ah! And Miss Ravenden has been advising you to marry Mr. Haynes?”
“She has been advising me not to,” retorted Helga. “Harris Haynes is the best man I have ever known, and I owe him everything; but Dolly knows that I don’t—really, Dr. Colton, I don’t know why I should be telling you all these things.”
Dick, thunderstruck at the new light on Miss Ravenden’s views, paid no attention to this mild suggestion that he mind his own business. Indeed it suddenly had become his own business with a vengeance.
“Miss Ravenden advised you not to marry Haynes? It can’t be. She told me——”
“You and Dolly seem to be very much interested in my affairs.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Dick. “Some day I hope to explain to you. Let us get back to Everard, You say there is a reason why you should not marry him?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you care for him?”
“That is a question you have no right to ask.”