"Pffft! If a man wants to throw old clothing away and buy stylish outfits, what affair is it, but his own? It isn't right so to pick out a man, and turn him into a laughing stock of a city. Old Bill isn't a bad sort; possibly born grouchy; but if a grouchy man or woman, (and I know a _bunch_ of that class in this town!) _can_ pull out of it, and laugh, and find a bit of joy in living, _I_ think it is an occasion for congratulations, _not_ booing." "Oh," said Kathlyn, "I don't think anybody is booing Councilman Simpkins. But you know that any showing of such an innovation is apt to start gossip. Just why, I don't know. It, though, is a trait of Mankind only. Animals don't 'bloom' out so abruptly. You can hunt through Biology, Zoology or any similar study, and find but slow,--awfully slow,--adaptations toward any form of variation. Hurrying was not known until Man got around." "My!" said Nancy, gasping, and not giggling now, "I wish that _I_ could know all that you know, Kathy. As our slang puts it, 'I don't know nothin'.'" "But, you could," said Kathlyn, "if you would only study. All through our young days, you know, with you and Bill out at a card or dancing party, you in flimsy frills, and Bill swishing around in sartorial glory, _I_ was upstairs, studying. And so was Julius." "That's right," said Nina. "I wish Virginia would study." "Oh, I _am!_" said Virginia, all aglow. "You? Studying _what_?" "Aviation! Harold is going to show--" "Now, Virginia, Harold is _not!_" and Nina Adams' foot was _down!_ "It's not so bad for a man to fly, but a girl--" "But, Mama, lots of girls fly, nowadays." "I know that, _and_ I also know _a_ girl who _won't!_ and, just as Lucy has always known that Old Tom Young's 'no' _was_ a no, just so had Nina Adams brought up Virginia." "But," said Kathlyn, "this sky-shooting talk isn't finding out anything about Councilman Simpkins;" and Virginia said:-- "Possibly Old Bill wants to 'fly high.' I think I'll ask Harold about taking him up for a jaunt." This, bringing a happy laugh all around, Nina said:-- "Now don't jolly poor Bill too much. I don't know what, or who, got him to 'going social.'" And Nancy, giggling, said:-- "I put up a dollar, with Lucy's dollar-fifty that it's a woman." "Oh, I don't know, now," said Nina. "A man isn't always trotting around on a woman's apron strings," and, as it was growing dark, Nina and Virginia got up to go. Passing down Gadsby's front walk, a soft night wind brought back to that porch:-- "Now, Virginia, _quit_ this! You will stay _on solid ground!_" "Aw, Ma! Harold says----" But a big bus, roaring by, cut it short. * * * * * Just a month from this, His Honor, sitting on his porch with his "Morning Post" ran across a short bit, just two rows of print, which had him calling "Hi!" which Lady Gadsby took as a signal for a quick trip to that porch. "All right, Your Honor! On duty! What's up?"