“Blue eyes are true eyes,” I observed.

“There is somthing feirce about black eyes,” she said, finishing the cream.  “I feel this way.  One cannot tell what black eyes are thinking.  They are a mystery, and as such they atract me.  Almost all murderers have black eyes.”

“Jane!” I exclaimed.

“They mean passion,” she muzed.  “They are strong eyes.  Did you ever see a black-eyed man with glasses?  Never.  Bab, are you engaged to Tom?”

“Practicaly.”

I saw that she wished details, but I am not that sort.  I am not the kind to repeat what has been said to me in the emotion of Love.  I am one to bury sentament deep in my heart, and have therfore the reputation of being cold and indiferent.  But better that than having the Male Sex afraid to tell me how I effect them for fear of it being repeated to other girls, as some do.

“Of course it cannot be soon, if at all,” I said.  “He has three more years of College, and as you know, here they regard me as a child.”

“You have your own income.”

That reminded me of the reason for my having sought the privasy of my Chamber.  I said: 

“Jane, I am thinking of buying an automobile.  Not a Limousine, but somthing styleish and fast.  I must have Speed, if nothing else.”

She stopped eating a caromel and gave me a stunned look.

“What for?”

“For emergencies.”

“Then they disaprove of him?” she said, in a low, tence voice.

“They know but little, although what they suspect—­Jane,” I said, my bitterness bursting out, “what am I now?  Nothing.  A prisoner, or the equivalent of such, forbiden everything because I am to young!  My Soul hampered by being taken to the country where there is nothing to do, given a pony cart, although but 20 months younger than Leila, and not going to come out until she is married, or permanently engaged.”

“It is hard,” said Jane.  “Heart-breaking, Bab.”

We sat, in deep and speachless gloom.  At last Jane said: 

“Has she anyone in sight?”

“How do I know?  They keep me away at School all year.  I am but a stranger here, although I try hard to be otherwise.”

“Because we might help along, if there is anyone.  To get her married is your only hope, Bab.  They’re afraid of you.  That’s all.  You’re the tipe to atract Men, except your noze, and you could help that by pulling it.  My couzin did that, only she did it to much, and made it pointed.”

I looked in my mirror and sighed.  I have always desired an aristocratic noze, but a noze cannot be altered like teeth, unless broken and then generaly not improved.

“I have tried a shell hair pin at night, but it falls off when I go to sleep,” I said, in a despondant manner.

We sat for some time, eating caromels and thinking about Leila, because there was nothing to do with my noze, but Leila was diferent.