“Oh, Laura, I couldn’t ,” gasped Page. “I wouldn’t for worlds.”

“Couldn’t she, Aunt Wess’?” appealed Laura. “Wouldn’t it be all right?”

But Mrs. Wessels, ignoring forms and customs, was helpless. Again she withdrew from any responsibility in the matter.

“I don’t know anything about it,” she answered. “But Page oughtn’t to be bold.”

“Oh, bother; it isn’t that,” protested Page. “But it’s just because⁠—I don’t know, I don’t want to⁠—Laura, I should just die ,” she exclaimed with abrupt irrelevance, “and besides, how would that help any?” she added.