Page 102 (1/2)

"I hate dressing for a ball at this hour," she said, rather

breathlessly "I don't feel half-dressed by ht"

Madeleine, in street costu for my hair," she explained Her tone was nervous,

but he was entirely unsuspicious

"You don't e's, do you? I'ht to stay at the club as late as I can"

"Of course not I shall probably pick up so on"

In the car she chattered feverishly and he listened, lapsing into one of

the silences which her talkative spells always enforced

"What flowers are you having?" she asked, finally

"White lilacs and pussy- Did your orchids coown is flame color They

sie," she explained And, in a slightly defiant tone:

"Rodney's is a costume dance, you know"

"Do you mean you are in fancy dress?"

"I am, indeed"

He was rather startled The annual dinner of the board of governors of

the City Club and their wives was a est by far of the ers

They represented the conservative element of the city's social life,

that elenize the

bizarre It was old-fashioned, secure in its position, influential, and