lonesome," says I. "Honest, I was lookin'
for a bunch; but if it's only a mixed foursome, that ain't so bad. I got
the scheme, though. She counts Westy as better than a crowd. 'Safety
First' is her motto. But who's the Peevish Priscilla here, that's so
tickled to see me come in she has to turn away to hide her emotion?"

"Doris?" says Vee. "Oh, we got to know her on the steamer coming back
from the Mediterranean last winter. Stunning, isn't she?"

"Specially her manners," says I. "Almost paralyzin'."

"Oh, that's just her way," says Vee. "Really, she's very nice when you
get to know her. I'm rather sorry for her too. Her home life is--well,
not at all congenial. That's one reason why I asked her to visit me for
a week or so."

"That's the easiest thing you do, ain't it," says I, "bein' nice to
folks that ain't used to it?"

"Thank goodness," says Vee, "someone has discovered my angelic qualities
at last! Go on, Torchy, think of some more, can't you?" And she claps
her hands enthusiastic.

"Quit your spoofin'," says I, "or I'll ring for Aunty and tell how
you've been kiddin' the guest of honor. I might talk easier too, if we
could adjourn to the window alcove over there. No rule against that, is
there?"

Didn't seem to be. And we'd have had a perfectly good chat if it hadn't
been for Doris. Such a restless young female! First she wants to drum
something out on the piano herself. Then she must have Vee come show
her how it ought to go. Next she wants to practice a new fancy dance,
and so on. She keeps Westy trottin' around, and Vee comin' and goin',
and things stirred up gen'rally. One minute she's gigglin' hysterical
over nothin' at all, and the next she's poutin' sulky.

Anyway, she managed to queer the best part of the evenin', and I'd just
settled down with Vee in a corner when the big hall clock starts to
chime ten, and in through the draperies marches Aunty. It ain't any
accidental droppin' in, either. She glances at me stern and suggestive
and nods towards the door. So it was all over!

"Say," I whispers to Vee as I does a draggy exit, "if Doris is to be
with us again, would you mind my bringin' a clothesline and ropin' her
to the piano?"

Maybe it wa'n't some discouragin' a week later to find the same pair
still on the job, with Doris as much of a peace disturber as ever. I got
a little more of her history sketched out by Vee that night. Seems that
Doris didn't really belong, for all her airs. Her fol