"I wouldn't care to go to that myself." "Well, I don't know," answered Carrie, puzzling, but not offering to break her promise in his favor.
Just then a knock came at their door and the maid-servant handed a letter in.
"He says there's an answer expected," she explained.
"It's from Hurstwood," said Drouet, noting the superscription as he tore it open.
"You are to come down and see Joe Jefferson with me to-night," it ran it part.

"It's my turn, as we agreed the other day.

All other bets are off." "Well, what do you say to this ?" asked Drouet, innocently, while Carrie's mind bubbled with favorable replies.
"You had better decided, Charlie," she said, reservedly.
"I guess we had better go, if you can break that engagement upstairs," said Drouet.
"Oh, I can," returned Carrie without thinking.
Drouet selected writing paper while Carrie went to change her dress.

She hardly explained to herself why this latest invitation appealed to her most.
"Shall I wear my hair as I did yesterday ?" she asked, as she came out with several articles of apparel pending.
"Sure," he returned, pleasantly.
She was relieved to see that he felt nothing.

She did not credit her willingness to go to any fascination Hurstwood Held for her.