"I should think that was self-evident," he observed. "What brings you
home so early?"

"The dance was insufferably stupid." She dropped into a chair and
began stripping off her gloves. "The music was awful and you know what
the Erskine's ball-room floor is like; domestic champagne, too, with
frilly serviettes around the labels and half the boys drank quite too
much of it. Ghastly bore, the whole affair."

"It seems to me everything is a bore nowadays, according to you."
Vernon grinned. "When is Starr Wiley coming back?"

"I haven't the least idea." Angie flushed. "What has he to do with
it?"

"A good bit, I imagine," responded her brother. "You were playing him
pretty strong before he left."

"Heavens! I wish you wouldn't use such horrid coarse expressions!
That's Willa's influence, but I knew just how it would be. I warned
mother it was a hopeless job to try to make anything of her the very
night she came, and I'm simply dreading next Tuesday!"

"I wouldn't worry on her account if I were you," Vernon returned. "She
may be a little green yet, but she's learning fast, and I wouldn't be
surprised if she were the hit of the season. That black hair and
dead-white skin and those deep blue eyes of hers are going to make a
sensation right off the bat. You'd better look to your laurels, my
dear sister."

"Tommyrot!" retorted Angie, inelegantly. "She's as awkward as a calf,
and hasn't a word to say for herself, though if she'll only continue to
keep still, I'm sure we shall all be thankful. Mother is in despair
over her studies; she simply refused to go on with the tutor, you
know--said she could read all the history and literature she wanted,
and it was a waste of time to study geography until the war was over
and the map settled. Moreover, she told Mr. Timmins to his face that
she knew more about practical mathematics and executive finance than he
did, and the dead languages could stay dead as far as she was
concerned."

Vernon chortled.

"Bully for her! I think she's a corker. She dances like a dream
already, and old Gaudet is ready to weep with joy over her fencing."

Angie compressed her lips, in the fashion she had inherited from her
mother.

"She ought to come naturally by the dancing, I'm sure," she sneered.
"And she rides in rotten form, like a Western cow-girl. It was wise of
mother to introduce her first at a small dinner instead of giving her a
formal coming-out party, where she wou