good for children to let them work themselves up that way. She'll be
as much upset as the bridegroom if Helen does back out."

"Oh, I don't think old Mrs. Greenleaf would ever let her break it
off, now" said Mrs. Merriam, stooping to pick up the papers which
her husband had left strewn over the floor.

"She's hard as rocks," agreed Aunt Nettie.

"Though," Mrs. Merriam went on, "when it's a question of her
daughter's happiness--"

"A little unhappiness would serve Helen Green leaf right," commented
the other tartly. "She's spoiled to death and a flirt. I think it
was a lucky day for young Doc Alison when she jilted him."

"She's just young and vain," championed Mrs. Merriam, carefully
folding the papers and laying them in the rack. "Any pretty girl in
Helen's position couldn't help being spoiled. And you must admit
nothing's ever turned her head--Europe, or her visits to Cleveland,
or anything."

"The Cleveland man is handsome," said Aunt Nettie irrelevantly--the
Cleveland man was the bridegroom-elect.

"Yes, in a stylish, sporty kind of way. But I don't know--" She
hesitated a moment, then concluded: "Missy doesn't like him."

At that Aunt Nettie laughed with genuine mirth. "What on earth do
you think a child would know about it?" she ridiculed.