Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/82

70 old pachyderm, Mr. Romaine! I would n't marry him if he was padded an inch thick with thousand-dollar bills! But she as good as said she would—and the way he poked fun at her! She agrees with everything he says, and she is making such a dead set at him that she can't see the old gentleman's game. I am perfectly disgusted with her."

At the first mention of Mr. Romaine's name, a faint color came into Miss Jemima's gentle, withered face.

"Don't speak of him that way, Letty dear," she said. "He was a charming man once. But, perhaps, my love, it would be more prudent for you to avoid Miss Maywood. Nothing is more dangerous to young girls than association with others who lack modesty and refinement, as you represent this young lady."

"I 'll think over it," answered the prudent Letty, who at that moment remembered that they were all going to the country, which is dull for young people at best, and a new neighbor is a distinct godsend not to be trifled with. But in her heart she had grave doubts of Miss Maywood's propriety.