"Not yet," says I. "I may take a chance on something fresh." They was all pilin' out eager by that time, each one anxious to get started on his own special fool stunt, so, while I was mixed up in the gen'ral push, with my hat in my hand and my coat over my arm, it didn't strike me how I could bolt the programme until I'm half crowded behind the open hall door. Then I gets a swift thought. Seein' I wouldn't be missed, and that Vee has her back to me, I simply squeezes in out of sight and waits while she says by-by to the last one; so, when she fin'ly shuts the door, there I am. "Why, Torchy!" says she. "I thought you had gone." "But it wa'n't a wish, was it?" says I. "Humph!" says she, flashin' a teasin' glance. "Suppose I don't tell that?" "My nerve is strong today," says I, chuckin' my hat back on the rack; "so I'll take the benefit of the doubt." "But all the others have gone to--to do things that will please me," she adds. "That's why I'm takin' a chance," says I, "that if I stick around I might--well, I'm shy of grandmothers to steal orchids from, anyway." Vee chuckles at that. "Isn't Cousin Eulalia too absurd?" says she. "And since you're still here--why--well, let's not stand in the hall. Come in." "One minute," says I. "Where's Aunty?" "Out," says she. "What a pity!" says I, takin' Vee by the arm. "Tell her how much I missed her." "But how did you happen to come up today?" asks Vee. "There wa'n't any happenin' to it," says I. "I'd got to my limit, that's all. Honest, Vee, I just had to come. I'd have come if there'd been forty Aunties, each armed with a spiked club. It's been months, you know, since I've had a look at you." "Yes, I know," says she, gazin' at the rug. "You--you've grown, haven't you?" "Think so?" says I. "Maybe it's the cut-away coat." "No," says she; "although that helps. But as we walked in I thought you seemed taller than I. Let's measure, here by the pier glass. Now, back to back. Well, if I ever! Look where your shoulders come!" "No more than an inch or so," says I, gazin' sideways at the mirror; and then I lets slip, half under my breath, a sort of gaspy "Gee!" "Why the 'Gee'?" says she, glancin' over her shoulder into the glass. "Oh, I don't know," says I; "only I don't mind bein' grouped like this, not a bit." "Pooh!" says she, but still holdin' the pose. "Seems to me," says I, "that Cousin Eulalia is a slick describer. That Princess Charming business ain't so wide." "Silly!" says she. "Come and sit down." She was steerin' for the windowseat; but I picks out a cozy little high-backed davenport and, reachin' for one of her hands, swings her into that. "Just room for two here," says I. "But you needn't keep my hand," says she. "No trouble," says I. "Besides, I thought I'd inspect what kind of a manicure you take of. M-m-m-m! Pretty fair, no hangnails, all the half-moons showin' proper, an----" I broke off sudden at that and sat starin' blank.