"I always say, Lil, it ain't so much the feller as how he treats you. It ain't none of my put-in, but I'd like to see the man that could make me sit at home alone seven nights in the week--that's what I would!" "Well, if you gotta go, Loo, you gotta go. I'm so excited-like I kind o' hate to have you leave." "There's nothin' to get excited about. It's just like you say: you've been thinkin', and now you've made up your mind. Now all you got to do is act--you got the note written, ain't you?" Lilly took a small square of yellow paper from her blouse and passed it to her friend. "Are you sure it reads all right, Loo?" Miss Tracy read carefully: DEAR CHARLIE,--You do not need to come after me, as I am not coming back. I could not stand it--no girl could. Yours truly, LIL. "Yes; that's great. So long as you ain't sore at him for no other reason, there ain't no use kickin' up. That just shows him where he stands. There ain't no use fightin'--just quit!" Lilly slipped the bit of paper back into her blouse. "I'll see you later," she said, with new determination. "Now don't let me influence you. Make up your mind and do what you think is best. Then don't be a quitter--when I start a thing I always see it through. Give me a girl with backbone every time. I glory in your spunk!" "Oh, I got the spunk, all right, Loo." They linked arms and went through the little bedroom into the parlor. At the door Miss Tracy lingered. "Your flat's got the room beat by a long shot; but I always say it don't make no difference whether you live in a palace or a cottage, just so you're happy. Gimme one room and what I want, and you can have all your swell marble-entrance apartments. Ain't that right?" "You've hit it, Loo. Take this here red parlor set--when me and Charley went down to pick it out I couldn't hardly wait till we got it up in the flat; and now just look! I can't look red plush in the face no more." "That's the way of the world," said Loo. She sucked in her breath and cluck-clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I'll be over about eight, then--after he goes." "All right. Bring what you need, and send for the other stuff. You better put in a party dress; we might get a date for to-night, for all I know. You know you always brought me luck when it come to dates. I ain't had a chum since that could bring them round like you." "Oh, Loo! I ain't thinkin' about such things." "Sure you ain't; but it won't hurt you to know you're livin', will it?--and to chaperon your friend?" "No," admitted Lil. "Well, so long! I'll see you later. Don't let on to Charley I was over. He ain't got no truck for me." They embraced. "Good-by for a little while, Loo." "Good-by, dearie."