Arethusa.

"Could you introduce me?" eagerly.

"I might, if really urged." Then he added, half to himself, "It's a
regular slaughter of the innocents whenever Grid Bennet goes to a
debutante party. He ought to be barred from 'em by law."

"I think you're jealous of him," said Arethusa reprovingly.

"I haven't a thing to be jealous of him about, and just to prove it,
here goes."

And as the Party was all beginning to rise from the tables, Mr. Watts
headed straight for Mr. Bennet. He was a trifle disgusted with Arethusa
for this display of enthusiasm over Gridley Bennet. His type did not
appeal to Mr. Watts very much.

But it certainly did to Arethusa.

A nearer view of Mr. Bennet showed him to her as even handsomer than
she had thought at a distance. The Introduction was a Momentous Affair,
far more of a Real Event than any introduction in which Arethusa had
ever participated. Mr. Bennet's manner of bending over her hand in his
acknowledgment of it called loudly for satin knee breeches and lace
ruffles, silver buckled shoon and a decorative sword, as the most
appropriate accompaniments. It was delightfully suggestive, to the
thrilled Arethusa, of the pages of her favorite novels of those days
when ladies' hands were kissed in public.

"Grid's squshy manner would get him anywhere he wanted with the skirts,
even if he didn't have the looks to back it up," commented Mr. Watts,
with inward dryness, of the meeting.

"I've been watching you for some time, Miss Worthington," was Mr.
Bennet's flattering opening to the conversation, "and I was planning an
introduction to you just as soon as dinner was over."

Now he very probably had not noticed her at all until Billy Watts had
him face to face with her, but he could no more help saying such things
than he could help his breathing. He was built just that way.

But Arethusa found no reason to doubt the sincerity of these charming
words. And his little way of looking at her and of leaning toward her
as he talked, were a perfect corollary, seeming to single her out from
among all these hundred or more feminine beings in the vast room as the
one whose company he most ardently desired. "These other stupid folks
do not exist for me at present," proclaimed his manner, "and I am just
where I most want to be."

Her heart fluttered painfully. She could only stand there at first,
silently flushing and paling by turns, at a loss for the words of a
reply that should suitably a