But
with Jeff it would be for one of the least of these. There flashed
into her mind an old Indian proverb she had read. "I met a hundred
men on the road to Delhi, and they were all my brothers." Yes!
None were too deep sunk in the mire to be brothers and sisters to
Jeff Farnum.
Ever since her return Alice had known herself in disgrace with her
father and that small set in which she moved. Her part in the big
_World_ story had been "most regrettable." It was felt that in
letting her name be mentioned beside that of one who was a
thoroughly disreputable vagabond she had compromised her
exclusiveness and betrayed the cause of her class. Her friends
recalled that Alice had always been a queer girl.
Her father and Ned Merrill agreed over a little luncheon at the
Verden Club that girls were likely to lose themselves in
sentimental foolishness and that the best way to stop such
nonsense was for one to get married to a safe man. Pending this
desirable issue she ought to be diverted by pleasant amusements.
The safe man offered to supply these.
Part 3
The farthest thing from Merrill's thoughts had been to discuss
with her the confounded notions she had somehow absorbed.
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