“Isn’t she nice?” said Millicent. “I’m bound to think so; she arranged this for me!” “Did she?” asked Millicent with feigned innocence. “She did it neatly!” “She promised to be my friend and then proved it,” Bruce said, and then added, “I’m not so sure our host quite liked being taken away.” “How foolish of you! He can always see me!” she replied indifferently. “Don’t scorn your food! It is of an exceeding goodness. Bring me up to date a little about yourself. Any more dark days?” “No-o-o.” She laughed at the prolongation of his denial. “Come now! I’m beginning to think I’m of no use to you!” “Right now I’m as happy as a little lark!” he declared. She had begun to suspect that he had known unhappiness. A love affair perhaps. Or it might have been the war that had taken something of the buoyancy of youth out of him. She was happy in the thought that she was able to help him. He was particularly responsive to a kind of humor she herself enjoyed, and they vied with each other in whimsical ridicule of the cubists in art and the symbolists in literature. ... The guests were redistributing themselves and she suggested that he single out Leila for a little attention. “Don’t have prejudices! There’s nothing in that,” she said. “I haven’t a prejudice against Miss Mills!” “Not so formal! I’ll give you permission to call her Leila! She’ll like it!” “But you haven’t told me I might call you----” “Millicent let it be!” “Well, little one, how’s your behavior!” demanded Leila when Bruce found her. “Bad!” Bruce replied in her own key. “My example, I suppose. I’ve heard that I’m a bad influence in the community. Let’s sit. You and I have got to have an understanding some day; why not now?” “All right, but don’t get too deep--Leila!” “That’s good! I didn’t suppose you knew my name. Millie’s put you up to that.” “She did. I hope you like it.” “Intensely! Are you falling in love with Millie?” “That’s a secret. If I said I was, what would you say?” “Atta boy! But--I don’t think she is in love with you.” “Your penetration does you credit! I had thought of her as perishing for the hour when I would again dawn upon her sight!” “You’re going good! Really, though, she admits that she likes you ever so much.” “Is that the reason why you think she doesn’t love me?” “Of course! I’m in love myself. I’m simply wild about Freddy Thomas! But I’d die before I’d admit the awful fact to my dearest friend! That’s love!” “How about your Freddy? Is he aware of your infatuation?” “That’s the wonderful part. You see, it’s a secret. No one knows it but just Freddy and me!” “Oh, I see! You pretend to hate Freddy but really you love him?” “You’re a thinker! What would you say if I told you I had a cute little flask upstairs and asked you to meet me in the pantry and have a little nip just to celebrate this event? I had only one cocktail; my dearest Dada saw to that!” “I’d meet you in the pantry and confiscate the flask!”