“I’m in a mess. I just found out—Oh, Lord.” He had caught sight of Maria coming towards him. “Come on outside. I’ll never be able to tell you in here. It’s terrible.” They stepped out of the door and were almost knocked over by Gin, who was in a whirl of dishevelled shawl and escaping hair. She flung herself upon them. “Thank goodness you’re here,” she cried. “Take me home. I’m in the most awful mess.” “Another?” asked Teddy. “Well, tell us all about it.” They went to Blake’s car and crowded into the front seat. Teddy nodded to Gin. “Well, tell yours first.” “I couldn’t possibly tell you,” she said. “It’s too involved. It’s indecent besides. Just get me out of here before Harvey finds me, because he’s in a state and if I see him again I’ll pull his hair out.” She laughed in a shrill voice. “The old sheep,” she said hysterically. “He acts exactly like a sheep.” “Well, then, wait a minute. Blake’s really in trouble.” “Oh.” She calmed down immediately. “I’m sorry. Is it serious?” Blake sat tragically slumped, with his chin propped on his hands over the steering-wheel. “I just heard that Mother’s shipping me off on Wednesday,” he said. The others gasped in chorus. “Wednesday!” cried Gin. “You mean to school? California? But that’s just four days from now!” “Three days. Today is tomorrow. I mean it’s three o’clock.” In the silence the music in the Gymnasium sounded foolish and far away. Someone scuffled and laughed in one of the nearby automobiles. “You can’t argue with your mother?” Gin asked. “No. She’s in a state about something. I can’t even talk to her decently.” Teddy said, “Wait till morning. Maybe she’ll be all right then.” “No, I don’t dare risk it. It wouldn’t do any good. I’ll just have to go unless I get away before she catches me.” They must have understood him, for they remained silent. A little breeze came from the mountains. Gin took a quick, noisy breath and cried, “Well, why shouldn’t you? Let’s all go away now. This minute, while we have a chance.” Teddy said nothing. They looked at him imploringly, waiting, but he did not say anything. At last Gin took him by the shoulders and shook him. “You’re not going to back out, are you?” she begged. “You want to go away, don’t you? You said you did. Come on. Blake, you tell him.” Blake couldn’t speak. “Oh, all right,” said Gin petulantly. “Neither of you mean it. Come on, Blake, let’s get out and leave him here. He can stay in this old town till he rots. I’m going to Mexico.” Blake’s mind seemed to burn up in a quick ecstatic thought of it. He shuddered. Teddy spoke at last. “Of course I’m going. Don’t be an ass. I’m just thinking.” He sat still, and then said, “First we’d better get coats. Give me the checks. It’s going to be cold.” “Oh,” Gin cried impatiently, “we don’t need coats. Come on.”