“Step-mother! Dear, nice step-mamma!” she cried. “Nice, dear, sweet, kind step-mamma! Helen’s going to be awful good to poor little Leila. Helen not be bad step-mamma like story books; Helen be sweet, kind step-mamma and put nice, beautiful gin cocktails in baby’s bottle!” As she continued in cooing tones Leila stroked her captive’s cheek and kissed her with a mockery of tenderness. Henderson and Thomas were shouting with laughter; Constance viewed the scene with lofty disdain; Whitford was mildly amused; Bruce, wishing himself somewhere else, withdrew toward the door, prepared to leave at the earliest possible moment. When at last Mrs. Torrence freed herself she sank into a chair and her laughter attained a new pitch of shrillness. “Leila, you’ll be the death of me!” she gasped when her mirth had spent itself. “Leila will be the death of all of us,” announced Constance solemnly. “Oh, I don’t know!” said Leila, straightening her hat composedly at the mantel mirror. “Too bad Leila’s ‘step-mama’ couldn’t have heard that!” sighed Henderson. “Now, Leila,” said Constance severely, “do run along home. Please let me take you in my car; you oughtn’t to drive in the condition you’re in.” The remark was not fortunate. Leila had discovered a box of bonbons and was amusing herself by tossing them into the air and trying to catch them in her mouth. She scored one success in three attempts and curtsied to an imaginary audience. “My condition!” she said, with fine scorn. “I wish you wouldn’t speak as though I were a common drunk!” “Anyone can see that you’re not fit to go home. Your father will be furious.” “Not if I tell him I’ve been with you!” Leila flung back. “Say, Leila!” began Henderson, ingratiatingly. “We’re old pals, you and I--let’s shake this bunch. I’ll do something nice for you sometime.” “What will you do?” Leila demanded with provoking deliberation. “Oh, something mighty nice! Maybelle and I will give you a party and you can name the guests.” “Stupid!” she yawned. “Your hair’s mussed, Helen. You and Bud have been naughty.” “Your behavior isn’t ladylike,” said Thomas. “The party’s getting rough! Come on, let’s go.” “Oh, I’m misbehaving, am I? Well, I guess my conduct’s as good as yours! Where do you get this stuff that I’m a lost lamb? Even an expert like you, Freddy, wouldn’t call me soused. I’m just little bit tipsy--that’s all! If I had a couple more highballs----” III By a signal passed from one to the other they began feigning to ignore her. Constance said she was going; Bud, Whitford and Thomas joined Bruce at the door where he was saying good-night to Mrs. Torrence. Leila was not so tipsy but that she understood what they were doing. “Think you can freeze me out, do you? Well, I’m not so easily friz! Mr. What’s-your-name----” She fixed her eyes upon Bruce detainingly. “Storrs,” Bruce supplied good-naturedly. “You’re the only lady or gentleman in this room. I’m going to ask you to take me home!”