“Certainly, Miss Mills!” With a queenly air she took his arm. Henderson ran forward and opened the door, the others hanging back, silent, afraid to risk a word that might reopen the discussion and delay her departure. “Shall I drive?” Bruce asked when they reached the curb. “Yes, thanks; if you don’t mind.” “Home?” he inquired as he got her car under way. “I was just doing a little thinking,” she said deliberatingly. “It will take only five minutes to run over to that little cafeteria on Fortieth Street. Some coffee wouldn’t be a bad thing; and would you mind turning the windshield--I’d like the air.” “A good idea,” said Bruce, and stepped on the gas. The car had been built for Leila’s special use and he had with difficulty squeezed himself into the driver’s seat; but he quickly caught the hang of it. He stopped a little beyond the cafeteria to avoid the lights of the busy corner and brought out a container of hot coffee and paper cups. “Like a picnic, isn’t it?” she said. “You won’t join me?” She sipped the coffee slowly while he stood in the street beside her. “There!” she said. “Thank you, ever so much. Quarter of seven? Forty-five minutes to dress! Just shoot right along home now. Would you mind driving over to the boulevard and going in that way? The air certainly feels good.” “Nothing would please me more,” he said, giving her a quick inspection as they passed under the lights at a cross-street. She was staring straight ahead, looking singularly young as she lay back with her hands clasped in her lap. “Constance was furious!” she said suddenly. “Well, I suppose she had a right to be. I had no business getting lit.” “Well, strictly speaking, you shouldn’t do it,” he said. It was not the time nor place and he was not the proper person to lecture her upon her delinquencies. But he had not been displeased that she chose him to take her home, even though the choice was only a whim. “You must think me horrid! This is the second time you’ve seen me teed up too high.” “I’ve seen a lot of other people teed up much higher! You’re perfectly all right now?” “Absolutely! That coffee fixed me; I’m beginning to feel quite bully. I can go home now and jump into my joy rags and nobody will ever be the wiser. This is an old folks’ party, but Dada always wants to exhibit me when he feeds the nobility--can you see me?” Her low laugh was entirely reassuring as to her sobriety, and he was satisfied that she would be able to give a good account of herself at her father’s table. “Just leave the car on the drive,” she said as they reached the house. “Maybe I can crawl up to my room without Dada knowing I’m late. I’m a selfish little brute--to be leaving you here stranded! Well, thanks awfully!” He walked with her to the entrance and she was taking out her key when Mills, in his evening clothes, opened the door. “Leila! You’re late!” he exclaimed sharply. “Where on earth have you been?”