an, dismally.

"The mischief they don't!" and John gave vent to an exclamation of
disbelief. "Why, Ruth was only telling me half an hour ago how good and
generous you were, and Louie caught me in the Lodge and went into regular
spasms over you. You're the patientest, the generousest--everythingelse-est
girl she knows. I had actually to tear myself away from her raptures when I
saw that you were free of her and could take a turn with me."

Nan shook her head.

"No, you're wrong, John!" she said hopelessly. "They don't like me.
None of them do. It's no use. I thought Christmas eve I might make
them, perhaps--but I give it up. I'm too--different!"

"Now, see here, Nan!" cried John, stopping suddenly in the middle of
the path and confronting her squarely, "this change of base has come on
you all of a sudden. You weren't in such a state before. You've seen
something or heard something that's given you a turn. Say now, haven't
you, honestly?"

Nan gulped and nodded grimly.

"I thought so. Well, now, you say you're different from the other
girls, and so you are in most ways, but just at present you're doing
the silliest trick I know. Going off by yourself and making people
miserable all around. Do you know what a fellow would do in your
place? Why, he'd go straight to the man he'd heard or seen back-biting
him and he'd make him come out fair and square and own up--or shut up.
'You pays your money and you takes your choice.' That's what a fellow
would do. But girls prefer to be martyrs and go about 'letting
concealment prey upon their damask cheeks' and all that namby-pamby
nonsense. Pshaw! I wouldn't give a rush for a girl's courage. It's
all humbug."

"It isn't any such thing!" cried Nan, hastening to defend her sex. "It
isn't because I'm afraid that I don't go straight up to the--the
person. It's because I have too much pride. I wouldn't demean myself
by letting her know I care."

"Oh, fudge! Pride! I like that! Care? Why, whoever she is, she can
see that, anyhow, with half an eye. It's as plain as preaching. You
came with Lu and Ruth, and were as gay and jolly as could be. Then,
all of a sudden, you turn grumpy and want to go home, and say Lu and
Ruth don't like you. The explanation of that is simple enough. You've
heard some one saying something about you, or pretending to repeat
something Lu and Ruth have said about you. There! Now haven't I hit
the nail on the head?"

Nan made no