When again couples were seeking each other to the jazzy invitation of the musicians, King slipped away and went outside. He stood in the shadows of the porch seeking to get a grip on himself. In a moment he would go in and say good-night to Mrs. Gaynor; he'd say good-night to Gloria; he would go and put an end to a hideous nightmare. He held himself very much of a fool, and he knew that he was fanciful. But he was of no mind to stay. Two or three couples came out; he remained unnoticed in the darkness. He heard a girl's voice: "But _who_ is he? I think he's terribly handsome. And distinguished-looking. Superior to our kind of nonsense." "Who are you talking about, Betty?" Her dancing partner pretended to be in doubt. "Me?" A whirlwind of girls' laughter. Then one of them saying: "_You_ distinguished-looking! Or handsome! She means the sixty-nine-dollar serge suit." Good God! Was there a price tag on him? "Oh, the animal trainer!" They laughed again. Then Gloria came and they called to her, demanding: "_Who_ is he?" "Oh," said Gloria carelessly, "he is an old friend of papa's and his name is King." They went in, two of the girls lingering a little behind the others. Gloria and another. The other, bantering and yet curious, said: "Georgia told me all about a Mr. King up in the mountains this spring. And that it looked like love at first sight to her. 'Fess up, Glory, my dear." Gloria's laughter, unfettered, spontaneous, was of high amusement. "Georgia said, just the same, that she'd bet on an elopement--" King reddened and stirred uneasily. Gloria gasped. "Georgia's crazy!" she said emphatically. "Why, the man is impossible!" * * * * * Five minutes later King went in, found his hat, and told Mrs. Gaynor good-night. She was glad that he was going, and he knew it though she made the obvious perfunctory remark. Gloria saw and came tripping across the room. "Not going so soon?" "Yes," he said briefly. "Good-bye, Gloria." "Good-night, you mean, don't you?" "I mean good-bye," he said quietly. Gratton thrust forward. King left abruptly, leaving them together, conscious of the quick look of pleasure on the face of Gloria's mother. _Chapter XI_ Always Gloria, yielding to the heady impulses of youth, was ready for High Adventure. Therein lay the explanation of many things which Gloria did.