"Pink enough to climb all these stairs?" asked Maurice, laughing. "I expect so," said Irene. "Any of the others come yet?" Jenny inquired on the way up. "Only Castleton and Cunningham and Ronnie Walker." "I mean any of the girls?" "No, you're the first--and fairest." Irene, for all her optimism, was beginning to feel exhausted. "I say, young Jenny, does your friend here--Maurice--I suppose I can call him Maurice?" "Idiot! Of course." "Does Maurice live much higher?" "Yes, you may well ask," said Jenny. "What! He's Sky-scraping Bill, if you only knew." "We're nearly there," said Maurice apologetically. Outside the door of the studio they paused. "What are their unnatural names?" asked Jenny, digging Maurice as she spoke. "Cunningham, Castleton and Walker." "They sound like the American Comedy Trio that got the bird. You remember, Ireen. Who cares? I shall call them Swan and Edgar for short." "That's only two." "Oh, well, I can remember Walker." Maurice opened the door, and Cunningham, Castleton and Walker advanced to make their bows. "This is Miss Pearl, and this is Miss Dale." "Pleased to meet you," said Irene. Jenny said nothing, but shook hands silently, taking the measure of the trio with shrewd and vivid glances. "Sit down, won't you?" said Cunningham. "Have a chair?" Walker suggested. Castleton looked at Jenny. "Isn't he tall?" she commented. "Doesn't he remind you of somebody?" "No," said Irene vaguely. "He does me. That Russian juggler--you know--who was struck on Queenie Danvers. _You_ know--the one we used to call Fuzzy Bill." "Oh, him?" said Irene. "Call me Fuzzy Bill, won't you?" put in Castleton. "It's a pleasantly descriptive name. I shall answer to that." Indeed, he did, for from that moment he became "Fuz" and never heeded a summons expressed differently. Just then there was a ring at the front door, and downstairs Maurice rushed to admit the visitors. Presently he came up again. "Damned kids," he grumbled. "You don't mean to say they fetched you all that way for nothing?" exclaimed Jenny. "It's good for him," Ronnie Walker asserted. "Yes, but what a dreadful thing," said Jenny. "Fancy tearing all that way for nothing. I should go mad." Another ring punctuated Jenny's indignation. Everybody to be forewarned ran to the window. "It is them this time. Gladys! Elsie!" she called. Then in critical commentary: "What a dreadful hat Elsie's got on." "She bought it yesterday. "I don't think," said Jenny. "Or if she did, it must have lain in the window and got forgotten since the year before last. Besides, what a shocking color. It's like anchovy paste." Madge Wilson and Maudie Chapman now appeared from round a corner, and, since Maurice was already on his way downstairs, Jenny ran after him to prevent a double journey. "Wait, wait," she called after him. "Madge and Maudie are coming, too." He stopped and waved to her. "Jenny--quick, one kiss--over the banisters. Do."