Don't be a hypocrite."
He drew her close to him. "I should be sorry for myself if he took you
from me."
She clung to him. "He is not going to take me away."
"Was that what you were telling him on the balcony stairs?"
"Yes. And he said I was too young to know my own mind. That I was a
sleeping Princess--and some day he would wake me--up--"
"Oh."
"And he is not the Prince, Daddy. There isn't any Prince."
She had shut resolutely away from her the vision of Derry Drake as she
had seen him on the night of Cinderella. She would have no
white-feathered knight! Princes were brave and rode to battle!
CHAPTER VI
THE PROMISE
It was Alma who gave Derry Drake the key to Jean's conduct.
"Did your ears burn?" she asked, as they danced together after Jean and
her father had gone.
"When?"
"We were talking about you at dinner."
"I hope you said nice things."
"I did, of course." Her lashes flashed up and fluttered down as they
had flashed and fluttered for Ralph. Every man was for Alma a possible
conquest. Derry was big game, and as yet her little darts had not
pierced him.
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