"Come off!" said Anita with a laugh. "Guess I played round with Garry before you ever did. I say, Do, I'm just dying for a good old bust! Lord, it's been slow since you went. Gee, everything's broke up. Ida's a hundred years married--can't talk anything but the price of eggs and Brussel carpets. Thank the lord, Dodo, you and Garry are back to start something!" Snyder by the mantelpiece was standing grimly prepared, watching for developments, while Miss Pim overawed was listening open-mouthed. "My dear Anita," said Dodo quietly, "I'm afraid you are going to be disappointed again. We are going to be very quiet--much too quiet for you!" Something in the cold decision of the tone opened Anita's eyes. She looked at Dodo with a new vision, with a flare-up of that fierce caste antagonism which Dodo once had felt so brutally, face to face with Mrs. Massingale. "Dear me, as late as that!" she said, glancing at a wrist watch with extra nonchalance. "I must be rushing. So glad though to have had this glimpse." She shook hands airily. "You look quite shaken down, dear--quite matronly. I should never have thought it. Good-by. My love to poor old Garry." She went out languidly, her head in the air. Miss Pim remained, shuffling from foot to foot, awed and embarrassed, wondering how to exit with dignity. Dodo, quite at her ease and determined, came to her aid. "My dear Miss Pim, there are certain things I must talk over with Snyder. If you will wait for me--down-stairs, I'll drop in as I go out--since I was always your favorite!" "Down-stairs?" said Miss Pim, absolutely dazed by this easy air of patronage. "Yes, that's it." "Oh, down-stairs?" she repeated, open-mouthed. She turned, gazed at Snyder, bumped against the table and sidled out of the room, staring at Dodo in consternation. Snyder who had been silently enjoying the scene stepped forward, folding her arms abruptly. "Right, honey--you've got your chance now. Cut away all the rest!" "Yes, I must," Dodo answered, drawing a long breath, gazing out of the great bay-window to where the Metropolitan tower, like a great stalk among the weeds, was silhouetted against the changing white and yellow clouds. She had been abrupt, she had been cruel, yet she knew she had only done what she had to do. Snyder had understood, the readjustment was to be profound. "Sure, you must," said Snyder standing before her stubbornly. "Oil and water don't mix. Don't you get sentimental--don't you flinch--cut it all out! Start new." She nodded twice resolutely, turned and going to the bed, flung on her coat and slapped on her hat in her familiar way. She came back struggling in the sleeves. "The room's yours." Dodo, a little embarrassed, felt called upon for an explanation. "You see I want it for a particular--" she began, only to be interrupted. "Cut out explanations. It's yours. Well, honey, you've got a bully start, hang on to it--hang on hard. Good luck--good-by."