But even if I had, even if we had been engaged, I would feel now that circumstances were greatly changed. I would not think of considering marriage with anybody, and especially not with anyone who has just expressed such outrageous ideas about my brothers and sisters. You see, Pete, it happens that I love them all.”

“Why, naturally. Of course,” he said easily. “But I don’t see what that’s got to do with it. You’ve always loved them, haven’t you? But you always had time to go around with me.”

“That was a different thing,” said the girl sharply. “They had Mother and Father. But now they haven’t anybody.”

“Oh yes they have. They have a whole slew of aunts and uncles just aching to get hold of them and bring them up. They’ll have no end of a good time and won’t miss you in the least!”

Jennifer sprang to her feet furiously.

“That’ll be enough!” she said. “They’re my brothers and sisters and they’re not going to be thrown out into the world! We’re going to stick together, and that’s final! And now I guess you’ll have to excuse me. I have something that I must do at once. I really can’t talk any more about that or anything else.”

“Now look here, Jen! Don’t get hot under the collar. You always were an awful little pepper pot!”

Peter Willis reached out a long, strong arm and caught her wrists.

“Let go of me, Peter!” demanded Jennifer, quelling him with a cold glance.

“Now, now, now, Jen!” he said in his imperious tone. “Don’t get excited. Let’s get a little calm. Just quiet down and let me explain. You and I’ve been pretty good pals for a long time, haven’t we?”

“Let go of my wrists and I’ll answer you,” said Jennifer coldly.

He dropped her wrists but continued to hold her glance steadily. “Haven’t we, Jen?”

“We’ve been playmates,” said Jennifer steadily, “nothing more. It hadn’t occurred to me that anything else was necessary at present. I hadn’t got to the place where I even wanted anything more, and I don’t believe you had, either.”

She gave him a steady look, and he colored a trifle, annoyed.

“I thought so,” said Jennifer. “I was pretty sure all this nonsense was put into your head by my kind, benevolent aunts.”

“Oh no,” he said easily. “I’ve been considering you as mine for a long time. I’ve always expected to make you my wife.”

The girl’s face took on several fine shades of indignation.

“Oh really?” she said haughtily. “Just what right did you have to expect that? Kindly cancel that expectation at once! If I ever would have thought of you in that light in the past I certainly wouldn’t know. I could never marry a man who thought of my family as lightly and casually as you have shown today that you think.”

“Now, Jen, don’t be difficult. You certainly know that no man wants to marry a whole raft of howling, irrational children. You won’t find anyone to fill your ideal if you expect that. You’ll be left high and dry, a lonely old maid, out in the cold, you know, and you would never enjoy that, I’m sure.”

Jennifer retreated a step or two toward the hall, and there was utmost contempt in her face. “I wasn’t just looking around for someone to marry me at the present time, and I don’t know but an old maid could have quite a pleasant life.