Next day she took occasion to mention Peter and his affairs to
Alix. Alix turned fiery red, but laughed hardily.

"If he considers that an offer, he can consider it a refusal, I
guess," she said, boyishly embarrassed. "I like him--I'm crazy
about him. But I don't want any party in ringlets and crinolines
to come floating from the dead past over my child's innocent
cradle--"

"Alix, you're awful!" Cherry laughed. "You couldn't talk that way
if you loved him!"

"What way?" Alix demanded.

"Oh, about his--well, his children!"

"I should think that would be just the proof that I do love him,"
Alix persisted idly in her musical, mischievous voice. "I
certainly wouldn't want to talk of the children of a man I DIDN'T-
-"

"Oh, Alix, don't!" Cherry protested. "Anyway, you know better."

Alix laughed.

"I suppose I do. I suppose I ought to be a mass of blushes. The
truth is, I like kids, and I don't like husbands--" Alix
confessed, with engaging candour.

"You don't know anything about husbands!" Cherry laughed.