Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/326

 mentally complement each other but to whom marriage, with its obligations, does not appeal."

"I have read of such attachments," returned Mary dryly,—"but in my limited experience they invariably end in something deeper than friendship. No, Eletheer, you may deceive yourself but not others."

What could Eletheer say? Experience had taught her the folly of argument with this sweet little blue-eyed, Dutch-French friend, so she said coaxingly,—"Never mind that now, dear. Tell me of your proposed trip abroad next fall."

"There is little to tell. I hope, of course, to visit France and Holland as most of us in this valley are either French, Dutch, or a mixture of both."

"Strange! that two nations of such widely different characteristics should have so assimilated."

The vexed expression had disappeared from Mary's countenance; she loved to discuss the early history, and particularly religious, of this valley, and Eletheer's interest pleased her.