And then, like two nice old ladies, we'll start out to see the world--" "Oh, Rita! I don't want to see it when I'm too old!" "You'll enjoy it more--" "Rita! How ridiculous! You've seen more of the world than I have, anyway.

It's all very well for you to say wait till I'm an old maid; but you've been to Paris--haven't you ?" "Yes," said Rita.

There was a slight colour in her face.
"Well, then! Why must I wait until I'm a dowdy old frump before I go?
Why should you and I not be as happy as we can afford to be while we're young and attractive and unspoiled ?" "I want you to be as happy as you can afford to be, Valerie....

But you can't afford to fall in love." "Why ?" "Because it will make you miserable." "But it doesn't." "It will if it is love." "It is, Rita," said the girl, smiling out of her dark eyes--deep brown wells of truth that the other gazed into and saw a young soul there, fearless and doomed.
"Valerie," she said, shivering, "you won't do--_that_--will you ?" "Dear, I cannot marry him, and I love him.

What else am I to do ?" "Well, then--then you'd better marry him!" stammered Rita, frightened.
"It's better for you! It's better--" "For _me_?
Yes, but how about him ?" "What do you care about him!" burst out Rita, almost incoherent in her fright and anger.