“I'll be a bit of everything, as I am now. That hasn't hurt me.” He tried to conceal his joy, but didn't succeed altogether. “You really mean it, Beauty?”
“I mean it. Or, rather, I'll let you mean it for me. I'm a weak and foolish woman, Lanny. I oughtn't to have got into this jam at all. You'll have to take charge of me and make me behave myself.”
“Well, I've wanted to sometimes,” admitted the youngster. He wasn't sure whether he ought to laugh or cry. “Oh, Beauty, I really think it's the right thing to do!”
“All right, I'll believe you. I'll have to write a note to Harry. I just haven't the courage to see him again.”
“That's all right — he ought to stop worrying you. He really hasn't any claim to you.”
“He has, Lanny — more than you can guess. But I'll tell him it's all over — and we'll never see Pittsburgh.”
“I can get along without so much smoke,” declared the boy.
“I think I'd better tell Robbie first,” said the mother. “Maybe he can help to break the shock to Harry. He'll tell him I'm not really as good as I look!”
“Harry won't suffer so much,” said the young man of the world. “There'll be plenty of girls on the steamer willing to marry him.”
“He's a dear, kind fellow, Lanny — you're not in a position to appreciate him. I'll write him, and he can sail tomorrow, and you and I will go to Juan right away. I'll save and pay my debts, and give up trying to shine in society — do you think there'll ever be any more society in Europe, Lanny?”