"It's a lovely thing. But—Porter—it mustn't bind me to anything. I want to be free."
"You are free. Do you remember when you were a kiddie that I gave you a penny ring out of my popcorn bag? You didn't think that ring tied you to anything, did you? Well, this is just another penny prize package."
So she wore it on her right hand and when he said "Good-night," he lifted the hand and kissed it.
"Girl, dear, may this be the merriest Christmas ever!"
And now the tears overflowed. They were alone in the lower hall and there was no one to see. "Oh, Porter," she wailed, "I'm missing Constance dreadfully—it isn't Christmas—without her. It came over me all at once—when I was trying to think that I was happy."
"Poor little Contrary Mary—if you'd only let me take care of you."
She shook her head. "I didn't mean to be—silly, Porter."
"You're not silly." Then after a silence, "Shall you go to early service in the morning?"
"Yes."
"May I go?"