“Oh, Laura, tell me,” she cried, “are you joking? Are you going to be married? Who to? I hadn’t an idea, but I thought⁠—I suspected.”

“Well,” observed Laura, slowly, “I might as well tell you⁠—someone will if I don’t⁠— Mr. Jadwin wants me to marry him.”

“And what did you say? What did you say? Oh, I’ll never tell. Oh, Laura, tell me all about it.”

“Well, why shouldn’t I marry him? Yes⁠—I promised. I said yes. Why shouldn’t I? He loves me, and he is rich. Isn’t that enough?”

“Oh, no. It isn’t. You must love⁠—you do love him?”

“I? Love? Pooh!” cried Laura. “Indeed not. I love nobody.”