In the interval of music Tommy was introduced to the privates of the stag-line, remembering mismated fragments of names, and receiving the bone-crushing grip which is every youth’s obsession, until his own shoulders sagged, and his throat became dry with repeating “How do you do.” “I’d better introduce you to some girls, now,” Carl decided mercifully. A couple brushed past, engrossed in the intricacies of a new dance. The girl caught Tommy’s interest. “Who’s that?” he asked. Carl laughed softly. “So soon?” he said. “That’s Millicent Grant, for whom the party’s being given. She goes to Dobbs; as a relaxation, I guess. Her real business is the Male; making men fall for her, dangle a while, and then dropping them. Thinks she’s wasted on the small field this town offers. Look out for her. She’s shallow as the deuce, but hard to get away from.” “No danger,” said Tommy. “I didn’t appear so interested as to get all this biography, I hope!” “You’ll hear it soon enough. She enjoys being the talk of the town; local Barbara Neave, as it were. Come and meet her.” Followed by Tommy, Carl threaded his way through the dancers, stepped with nonchalant expertness on the toes of a stag about to precede him, and cut in. “Hello, Millicent! Come and be introduced to Tommy Squire, coming Big Man at school, who does me the honor of being my roommate for the exclusive right of wearing my ties.” Tommy smiled formally at his friend’s brilliance, made an inward notation that he liked her eyes when she smiled, and acknowledged the presentation. When Carl had removed himself, they danced. Then followed the conventional small-talk of two members of the warring sexes when both are engaged in “making an impression”. They both followed youth’s greatest diversion, staying in school the while dodging its exactions and embracing its pleasures, and acquiring not education, but the equally essential atmosphere. It developed that he was a junior, she in the final year of finishing school; that he played football, but had failed to win a letter (though he confessed with pardonable pride having played eight minutes in a Big Game when the first-string tackle had been carried off the field); that she _adored_ football; that she likewise _adored_ a number of things; dogs (but not the messy kind); fraternity pins, and Eastern men (this was a pardonable error; she made flattering concessions to the Southern variety, when Tommy found the opportunity to tell her where he came from); that she _adored_--a great many more things. In short, they simply chattered, as a man and a girl have always done, on first meeting. Later stages of acquaintanceship bring long silences, either from undisguised boredom or an adolescent spiritual understanding. Now, silence was a gaping hole in the garment of etiquette, to be patched with endless talk. They were soon cut in on.