"I don't say 'how' it stands. I don't say that it 'stands' at all. But he
has prospects and she has hopes."
"Prospects and hopes,--a strong working combination."
Medora took the leap. "She will marry him, of course," she said decidedly.
"After his having jilted Amy----"
"'Jilted' her? Do you understand it that way?"
"And trampled on Hortense----"
"'Trampled'? Surely you exaggerate."
"And ignored me----You will let me use that mild word, 'ignored'?"
"Its use is granted. He has ignored others too."
"After all that, who is there left in the house but Carolyn? Listen; I'll
tell you how it will be. She has answered his letter, of course,--imagine
whether or not she was prompt about it!--and he will answer hers----"
"_Will_ answer it?"
"Not at once, perhaps; but soon: in the course of two or three weeks. Then
she will reply,--and there you have a correspondence in full swing. Then,
in the fall he will write her from his new post in the East, and say: 'Dear
Girl,--At last I can----,' and so on."
"You mean that you destine poor Carolyn for a man who is so apt at jilting
and trampling and ignoring?"
"Who else is there?" Medora continued to demand sturdily.
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