“That’s just like you, Carrie⁠—you and the rest of the women,” exclaimed Cressler, “always scheming to marry each other off. Why don’t you let the girl alone? Laura’s all right. She minds her own business, and she’s perfectly happy. But you’d go to work and get up a sensation about her, and say that your ‘heart bleeds for her,’ and that she’s born to trouble, and has sad eyes. If she gets into trouble it’ll be because someone else makes it for her. You take my advice, and let her paddle her own canoe. She’s got the head to do it; don’t you worry about that. By the way⁠—” Cressler interrupted himself, seizing the opportunity to change the subject. “By the way, Carrie, Curtis has been speculating again. I’m sure of it.”

“Too bad,” she murmured.