“I think it’s charming,” Madden answered. “It’s darling of you. I love to have people forget important things. It’s good for your soul.” She shook her head impatiently, her eyes wet. They were all subdued. “Take me to a phone,” she said suddenly. “As soon as we get to town I’ll call the office.” “Don’t worry,” said Harvey, “Flo probably had a brainstorm and called them already. Is she in town today?” “I don’t know. Well, never mind. Breakfast!” They came into town with a wild swoop. At the little cafe Gin rushed for the telephone and found that Flo had committed the necessary perjury. She returned radiant to her coffee and fried eggs. “I’ve been trying to do a poem all night, I think,” Blake was telling Teddy. “I dreamed the beginning of it and added a lot and it was very good. Now I’ve forgotten most of it.” He laughed. “There are just two lines.” Teddy ordered, “Let’s have them.” “They’re silly. They don’t mean anything.” “Well, let’s see.” “Just this. “Your narrow eyes roaming desireless Skim cruelly the arid desert sands. “There was a picture that went with it of a figure on a mountain top.” “I’ll draw it,” said Madden. Harvey snuffled in scorn and looked side-wise at Blake. “I don’t feel at all like going home,” said Blake. “We ought to do something else now.” “Let’s go to Taos,” said Teddy. Gin cried out in alarm. “You do what you like, but take me home first. I’m down for Lamy this afternoon. Are you trying to ruin me?” “I’m going to work,” Harvey said decidedly. “Let’s get going.” They put Gin down first, while she tried feebly to tuck her hair up before she ran into her house. From the depths of the house they heard Flo, shrill and abusive, as they turned the car in the narrow street and headed for the Lennards’. Blake fell silent and thoughtful as they drew near home. “On second thought,” he told Harvey, “it might be wise for me to walk the last few steps. Mother may be excited. I hope she went to sleep.” He stepped lightly over the door and advanced bravely to the house: the car turned discreetly and went toward town again. Harvey was grumpy on the way back. He dumped Teddy at the door of their house and drove away again silently. Already the day seemed tired. Languid and a little depressed, Madden unlocked the door, carried in the warm bottle of milk, and lay down on his bed. His telephone rang late in the afternoon and woke him. Confused and feeling guilty, he stumbled over to it and answered the call in a cracked, sleepy voice. “Hello, Hello? Teddy Madden? Dear boy, where have you been? This is Bob.” “Oh, I was asleep. Just a minute——?” he lit a cigarette. “I say, am I due up there tonight? I’ve lost track of time.” He was, Bob assured him a little indignantly. Moreover, he was late for tea. “I’ll be right up,” he said. He hung up the receiver and before doing anything else, sat quietly in the half-dark, his head in his hands.