But a spirit of mischief had
taken possession of her and she felt he deserved some punishment.
Besides, it is so rare a chance when one can talk oneself over with a
person who has not learned one's identity! So she answered brusquely,
in Hope's own manner,
"I couldn't understand it, either, and it will be hard to make my
sister listen. She is a bit inflexible, at times. If you knew her
better you could never have hurt her so. She is not a flirt, by any
means!"
"I know it!" groaned Allyne, thoroughly shamed and penitent. "I knew
it then, but--I may as well own up--it was the champagne."
"More shame to you!" declared Faith with unusual decision. "That is no
excuse at all, for if it makes you do and say things to regret later.
Why don't you simply let it alone?"
He looked at her with a derisive laugh.
"Why don't I?" he began, then catching her earnest expression, checked
himself. "That's good logic, I suppose," he added.
"More--it's good sense," she argued. "I love oranges, for instance,
but they make me ill. Do you suppose I go on eating them? That would
be too foolish! Yet men are supposed to have more strength and
self-control than women."
The attache drew up a chair and dropped into it, not loth to linger,
even to be lectured.
"I don't think men have more of such strength though," he said. "Their
superiority is physical, not mental."
"They ought to be ashamed to own it!" cried Faith. "The two should go
together.
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