"Why, why not ?" said she.
"I won't." "I never knew what happiness was until I got married," said Flora.
Then she flushed up suddenly all over her steady face.
Lois, too, started and blushed, as if the other girl's speech had struck some answering chord in her.

The two were silent a moment.
Lois sewed; Flora stared off through the trees at the darkening sky.
The low rumble of thunder was incessant.
"George is one of the best husbands that ever a girl had," said Flora, in a tender, shamed voice; "but Francis would make just as good a one." Lois made no reply.

She almost turned her back toward Flora as she sewed.
"I guess you'll change your mind some time about getting married," Flora said.
"No, I never will," returned Lois.
"Well, I suppose if you don't, you'll have money enough to take care of yourself with some time, as far as that goes," said Flora.

Her voice had a sarcastic ring.
"I shall never have one cent of that Maxwell money," said Lois, with sudden fire.

"I'll tell you that much, once for all!" Her eyes fairly gleamed in her delicate, burning face.
"Why, you scare me! What is the matter ?" cried Flora.
Lois took a stitch.