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Evenings, Evie and Mabel went downstairs to the Bennington’s shabby dining roo creareat Manhattan adventures When Mabel had to help her parents at a workers’ rally one evening, Evie took the liberty of calling on Theta and Henry in their flat Henry hadjacket over a pair of baggy Moroccan pants ith an unbuttoned tuxedo shirt It was clear at a glance that he and Theta couldn’t be related--his freckled fairness was a stark contrast to her dark, smoky looks--but it was also clear by the way they ith each other that they were not lovers, only dear friends Henry had raised an eyebrow at Evie as he leaned against the door fra, slol, "I don’t suppose you’ve cohed and prourand "Entrez,her silk men’s pajamas, a peacock-patterned scarf tied dra?" The three of thein stolen from a party Theta had been to at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and s that Henry picked out on the ukulele, and no one complained that Evie was completely tone-deaf Then they played cards until the wee hours, and Evie crawled ho sun with the feeling that everything was possible in Manhattan and that a great adventure lay ahead of her--just as soon as she slept off the night

Now the first hints of red and gold limned the treetops in Central Park and an Indian-summer sun shone over Manhattan Evie, Mabel, and Theta, outfitted in their fashionable best, boarded the crowded trolley for an afternoon jaunt to the movies The three of the excitedly

"Evie, how is Jericho these days?" Mabel asked and bit her lip She tried to seem casual about it, but she had absolutely no poker face, and Evie knew sheinside

"Who’s Jericho?" Theta asked

"My uncle’s assistant," Evie explained "The big blond fellow"

"He’s absolute perfection," Mabel said, and both of Theta’s pencil-thin eyebrows shot up

"You goofy for him?"

"And how," Evie confirether these two lovebirds We’re off to a slow start, but I’m sure we’ll pick up steam for Operation Jericho now"

"Yeah?" Theta appraised Mabel coolly "What you need is a visit to the barber, kiddo"

Mabel clamped a hand protectively over the braid coiled at the back of her neck "Oh Oh, I don’t think I could"

"Well, of course, if you’re scared…" Theta winked at Evie

"Yes, of course Not all of us can be brave," Evie tutted, patting Mabel’s hand

"I could bob my hair anytime I wanted to," Mabel protested

"You don’t have to, Pie Face," Evie said, batting her lashes