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ner, the pretty house, everything, and I don't
for a minute think you are responsible for what
the other boys brought in in their flasks, or for
the way some of them behaved. And you can
count upon me, Jack, not to tell about those
things at school, or anywhere else, for that
matter."  "

"But to be special friends or see much of
each other -- we just can't, that's all. We are
too different. You think things are all right
that I -- well, you see how hard it is for us even
to talk about them." Betty stopped, for Jack
was frowning.

"Plow about that picnic that we fixed up that
night at dinner? You said you'd go. I promise
you that I'll not have a drop of anything with
me."

Betty had all she could do to keep steady.
Jack did like her, and his eyes were so dis-
tressed. "Oh, I'd love to say it was all right,
Jack, because you've been such a good friend;
but even if I could tell you that I would go,
Mother and Father would never let me go any-
where with that crowd again."

"How about me alone, with a different
crowd?"

"The same, Jack -- I'm sorry." Betty, too,
looked distressed.


 [[230]]