Chapter 20

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​⁠Forgiveness and garters lose their snap when they are stretched too often. Once before Forbes had apologized to Persis for an excess of enthusiasm, and her forgiveness had brought back her cordiality with perfect elasticity. The second time there had been a slight sag.

The boundary between the impertinence of a cad and the privilege of a suitor is vague and wavering. The act that is accepted as a m