“An invitation to Professor Joliette’s,” and Isabelle tossed a gilt-edged card across the table to Marion; “Wednesday evening. It’s not a very long invitation. What dress will you wear?”
“But you are engaged, Marion,” said Evadne; “Wednesday evening, you know.”
“Yes,” said Marion with a sigh, “it is awkward. I do wish they would choose some other night for prayer meeting. Wednesday seems such a favorite with everybody.”
“What a little prig you are getting to be, Evadne!” said Isabelle with a sneer. “Your only diversion seems to be prayer meeting and church. You are as bad as Aunt Marthe.”
“Aunt Marthe a prig! Oh, that is too funny!” and Evadne gave one of her low, sweet laughs. “Besides, does keeping one’s engagements constitute a prig, Isabelle? You wouldn’t think so if you were invited to the President’s reception.”
“The President’s reception! What does get into the child! I don’t see much analogy between the two cases. No one considers prayer meeting a binding engagement, and I’m sure we go as often as we can.”
“Not binding!” echoed Evadne. “So Christ is not of as much importance as the President of the United States!”
“You do have such a way of putting things, Evadne!” said Marion thoughtfully. “I expect we had better refuse, Isabelle.”
“Refuse, – nonsense!” said Isabelle sharply. “You always meet the best people at the Joliettes’, – besides, why should we run the risk of offending them?”
“Why should they run the risk of offending you, by choosing a night they know you cannot come?” asked Evadne.
“Ridiculous! What do they care about our church concerns? The Joliettes are foreigners. People in polite society do not give religion such an unpleasant prominence as you delight in, Evadne. For my part, I consider it very bad form.”
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