"Out of spite," added Mazie. "Well," replied Cornelia, reluctantly yielding to this concentrated fire, "I won’t go myself. But I’ll get you some one else. I have a dear little girl in mind who is as charming as she is original." "Who is this paragon?" interrupted Claude. "She’s a Brooklyn girl. Her name is Janet Barr." "Janet Barr!" exclaimed Robert. "Why, you can’t get _her_ to come to an affair like this." "Indeed!" "Yes. I know her family well. She lives in an atmosphere of Puritan blue laws perfumed with brimstone and sulphur. Her mother—" "She’ll come," interrupted Cornelia, with supreme confidence. "But Claude is bored, Mazie is making sheep’s eyes, and I’m hungry—let’s go to supper." "What about Big Burley," protested Mazie. "Aren’t you going to wait for him?" "No. But _you_ may if you like. I’m too hungry." When Cornelia saw a chance of tormenting some one, she could move with celerity. Her coat and hat were on in a twinkling, and she was ready to go while Robert and Claude were still fumbling for their hats and coats, and Mazie sat irresolute on the washtubs. "But really, Cornelia, if somebody doesn’t wait for Burley—" "Bother Burley! He should have been here a quarter of an hour ago. If it’ll quiet you, however, I’ll tack a note outside the door, telling him to follow us to the Asia Minor Cafeteria." Secretly gloating over the prospect of Burley’s chagrin, she suited the action to the word. While she was writing the note, Claude said to Robert: "I fear Big Burley will chalk up another black mark against you. He’s your boss on the _Evening Chronicle_, isn’t he?" "Yes. His word is law there since he wrote up the Montana dynamite trial." "Nonsense," said Cornelia. "He won’t take it out on Robert. I’ll see to that. He has vicious bursts of temper, but he’s not bad to the core." "Cornelia, every tiger-tamer thinks his pets are full of the milk of human kindness. You must excuse a layman for taking a more cautious view. Rob’s bread and butter depend on the _Evening Chronicle_." Robert cut him short. "Don’t worry, Claude," he said. "I’ve nothing to lose but my chains, and I’ve you and the girls and a merry evening to gain." "Good, Cato, good!" cried Cornelia. "I like your spirit. You shall go with me. You, Claude, for being saucy, may stay behind and tarry till your bonnie Mazie’s ready. Or you may wait for Hutchins Burley and, if possible, avert the wrath to come. Meet us at the restaurant, Mazie." With these words, Cornelia took Robert by the sleeve and marched out, leaving Claude staring blankly after her. "Upon my word!" said the young man, as much amused as he was vexed. "Look sharp, Mazie, will you?" he added, after a moment’s pause. "We may yet catch up to them, if you don’t put too fine a point—on your complexion." *III*