“This isn’t happening,” he thought frantically. “It’s a dream.” He persuaded her to stand up again, pulling her by the wrists, and tried to lead her to the side of the room. Just then he caught a glimpse of Mary, white-faced, looking the other way. He had thought that he could not be more miserable, but when he saw her he reached the limit of his endurance. He handed Janie over to Trewartha, and then took a deep breath and walked across the floor to Mary. “I was looking for you,” he said, abruptly. She bowed her head. What was she going to say to him? “You look tired,” he added. “Would you like to go home? It’s pretty late.” “Thank you, Blake,” she said coldly. “I don’t think that I want you to come with me.” “Why not?” He suddenly thought he understood. “You don’t want me to come home any more?” “Oh, don’t be dramatic. Go away, please. Don’t stop enjoying yourself.” His anger with Janie burst out now. “You’re the one who’s being dramatic. Very well, I won’t come home.” “That’s your own affair.” She opened her fan and started to wave it delicately. “Mother....” “Blake, please. We’ll talk about it in the morning.” He muttered, “No we won’t,” and started away, feeling decidedly ill with passion. On his way to the door he blundered into Mrs. Lyons, who stopped him. “So you’re leaving us?” She smiled down at him with her customary indiscriminate fondness for youth. He managed to collect his manners, saying politely, “It’s a nice party, but I’m sleepy.” “I didn’t mean tonight,” she explained. “Wednesday I mean. I understand you’re really leaving on Wednesday. Such a shame, when you’re having a good time! My boys hate to go back to school.” His jaw dropped as if someone had hit him on the back of the head. “Wednesday?” “Did I misunderstand?” she said. “I’m sure your mother said Wednesday.” “Oh, of course. Yes, Wednesday. Well, I must be going. Good-night.” But that was in four days! He walked towards Teddy, instinctively seeking help. Why hadn’t she told him? She had been too excited, probably; she had forgotten or put it off until she would have more time to argue. He rallied in his despair, and grew calm. “Teddy,” he said, over Lucy’s shoulder, “I’ve got to talk to you.” “Shhh.” Teddy waved him to silence. Bob was talking to Lucy Parker, and he wanted to listen. “It’s a modern orgy,” he was saying. “It’s the nearest approach to a public orgy that we’ll ever have in New Mexico.” Lucy glanced around, with her lips pursed scornfully, and remarked that for an orgy it was very dull indeed. “Look, there’s hardly anyone here to perform. Everyone is being either very dull or most circumspect.” “Of course,” said Bob triumphantly. “That’s the modern note. All the essence of the orgy is in the aftermath. We’ve lost the knack for public vice. We’ve——” “Oh, for Pete’s sake,” whispered Blake, “come on. This is awfully important.” “What is it?” They strolled off.