had better quit trying to say such foolish things to me, and just be my very good friend? If you don't, I do, which comes to the same thing. What's more, I won't be your partenaire at the dance unless you promise me on your word of honor that you will dance two dances with Adrienne to every one that you have with me. Do you promise?" 

 He dared not oppose her outwardly, although in his heart resistance amounted to furious revolt and riot. 

 "I promise anything you ask me to," he said resignedly, almost sullenly; "anything for you." 

 "Well, I ask nothing whatever on my own account," Alice quickly replied; "but I do tell you firmly that you shall not maltreat little Adrienne Bourcier and remain a friend of mine. She loves you, Rene de Ronville, and you have told her that you love her. If you are a man worthy of respect you will not desert her. Don't you think I am right?" 

 Like a singed and crippled moth vainly trying to rise once again to the alluring yet deadly flame, Rene de Ronville essayed to break out of his embarrassment and resume equal footing with the girl so suddenly become his commanding superior; but the effort disclosed to him as well as to her that he had fallen to rise no more. In his abject defeat he accepted the terms dictated by Alice and was glad when she adroitly changed her manner and tone in going on to discuss the approaching dance. 

 "Now let me make one request of you," he demanded after a while. "It's a small favor; may I ask it?" 

 "Yes, but I don't grant it in advance." 

 "I want you to wear, for my sake, the buff gown which they say was your grandmother's." 

 "No, I won't wear it." 

 "But why, Alice?" 

 "None of the other girls have anything like such a dress; it would not be right for me to put it on and make them all feel that I had taken the advantage of them, just because I could; that's why." 

 "But then none of them is beautiful and educated like you," he said; "you'll outshine them anyway." 

 "Save your compliments for poor pretty little Adrienne," she firmly responded, "I positively do not wish to hear them. I have agreed to be your partenaire at this dance of Papa Roussillon's, but it is understood between us that 

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