Cornelia, in fact, was far from pleased. Her unconscious game was to keep Robert revolving in an orbit around herself. He was such an excellent drawing card! For had he not the rare power of raising the value of any object or person he admired? Not that people ever credited him with unusual discernment or insight. Yet the fact remained that Robert had only to praise a human being or a work of art hitherto undervalued or overlooked, and presto, the article or the person instantly became subject to an urgent popular demand. This was one of the reasons why Cornelia (who felt that she had been handsome enough in surrendering Claude without a murmur) did not wish Robert as well to gravitate from her stellar system to Janet’s. But, seeing no way of cancelling Robert’s visit, she determined not to be a spectator of it. "I must run in next door, Janet," she said, "and ask the Gorilla to do an errand for me." She left, omitting her customary lyrical phrases of affection. Janet did not suspect the jealousy behind this omission. But she was undeniably disappointed because Cornelia had not encouraged her to discuss her friendships with Claude and Robert about whom her heart and her thoughts were brimful. Thus quickly did Cornelia damp down the fire of intimacy by treating the exchange of self-revelation as a strictly one-sided transaction. She had (so it struck Janet) a very low opinion of all confidences—other than her own. *II* When the bell rang, Janet opened the door wondering why Robert had come an hour before the appointed time. But it was Claude who entered! He came in, like the god of the glorious spring without, in his gayest, most engaging mood. "What luck, to find you in!" he cried. "Janet, I’ve come in an open car on the chance of taking you for a spin to Mineola to see the start of the great Cross-Continental airplane race." "Oh, Claude, how nice of you. But—I’m afraid I can’t go." "Why not?" "Well—you see—I’ve promised to go out with Robert this afternoon." His face clouded. "And you never told me!" escaped from him. "You are not my diarist," she said, faintly ironical. "Please forgive me, Janet," he said, dropping his possessive tone, as he reminded himself how touchy she was about her independence. "But I’m disappointed, bitterly disappointed. I planned the excursion as a surprise for you. And how I’ve counted on it!" "Not more than I long to go, Claude. But what can I do?" He took her hands in his, and said eagerly: "_Must_ you keep the engagement? Can’t you think of some excuse? Where on earth was he going to take you to?" "To the Japanese Industrial Exhibition at the Grand Central Palace." He made a contemptuous grimace. "A stuffy exhibition!" he exclaimed. "Good Heavens, Janet, why hesitate to change your plans? It isn’t as if Robert wanted you for himself, as I do. He’ll understand."