"Oh! dearie me," groaned Nan, "when you talk like that you make me feel as if the world were turning upside down. I never dreamed of it being a question of love affairs, and marriages." "I was not referring to anyone in particular," Eleanor protested hastily, "we were merely arguing in an abstract way. Weren't we, Moll?" "All I meant was," Nan went on in a dolorous voice, "that we have lost our originality when we begin to act just like other girls--flirting, and all that sort of rot. We used to have fun in the good old days when we all staid together. There were never any discussions as to how we should walk or drive for everybody was willing to go with everybody else. _Tête-à-têtes_ were unheard of, and nobody was ever silly." Mollie's sentiments chimed in with Nan, but Eleanor's assent was somewhat slower in coming. "I suppose it is only a question of time," she said, "for the _Vortex_ can't be here much longer, and Mr. Churchill always takes the _Sylph_ back to town in September. Then we can settle down, and have a good old-fashioned time during 'the autumn.'" "When will Cliff go?" Nan asked, with a sly laugh. Eleanor turned her head away to hide the tell-tale color that rose in her face. "Oh! come, Nancy, your imagination is running away with you. Nothing will satisfy you short of the banishment of the sex." "Qui s'excuse, s'accuse," quoted Mollie in an undertone. Eleanor laughed in spite of herself. She pushed back her chair, and crossed to the open window. Along the dusty highroad Cliff came sauntering. When he was just in front of the inn he looked up, and caught sight of Eleanor. He raised his hat, and called out to her to come down, and go for a stroll before supper. She gave him a curt refusal, and turned back into the room. "You shouldn't punish Cliff for my impertinence," reproved Nan. "It was not his fault." Eleanor frowned and spoke impatiently: "Cliff is only a boy, and a rather foolish one at that. But to continue. All this nonsense, as you call it, Nan, will be of brief duration, and my advice is to make the best of it." "There is a worse time coming," Mollie declared. "The _Vortex_ has wrought changes enough, but I don't suppose we will recognize the old place at all when the magnificent Miss Stuart arrives." "Sufficient unto the day," said Nan. "Well, good-by, girls I must be off."