only time when Mother kisses
Father is when she wants to catch him with the Goods. Look Out! This
is our Corner."

As soon as they had landed at the Gate, little Florine would say in
loud, clear Tones that would carry as far as the Sitting-Room Window,
"Oh, Mr. Gilblitz, I have had a most charming Evening, and I wish to
thank you most heartily."

Whereupon the Escort, standing 8 Feet away, with his Concertina Hat
in his Hand and the Face in the Moonlight beaming with child-like
Innocence, would come back thusly: "It's awfully good of you to say
that. Good Night."

[Illustration: _Florine._]

After which, Mother was supposed to believe that they had been 8 feet
apart all Evening. But Mother was Canny and up to Snuff, with a Memory
that reached back at least 25 Years. These little One-Act Plays under
the Window did not throw her off for any part of a Minute. Before
Florine turned in she was Cross-Examined and required to tell
with whom she had danced, and why and how often and what he said.
Occasionally the Daughter worked the Mental Reservation. In other
Words, she held out on Mother. She said that she had sat out most of
the Numbers, but she admitted going through a Square Dance with the
Young Man who passed the Plate at the Episcopal Church.

At which Mother would wink the Off Eye and murmur, "Is that so?" with
the Loud Pedal on the "That." Also something about being more than
Seven.

One of Florine's Ancestors on Mother's Side happened to be on Earth at
the time of the Revolution, and Father often spoke of a Second Cousin
who had been in Congress until the District tumbled to him. Because of
this Current of Blue Blood racing in her Veins, Florine was supposed
to be a trifle Classy and Mother was always afraid that she might get
Thumb-Marks on the Family Escutcheon. Therefore Florine was forbidden
to work up a Calling Acquaintance with any of the Hoi Polloi, which is
Greek for Selling-Platers. According to Mother, there were only about
8 Families in Town that really belonged and some of them didn't Belong
enough to hurt. Florine found herself cut out of many a Good Time
because the Chaperon for the Occasion chanced to be related to some
one who had been in the Liquor Business.

Florine was up against it ever so Hard. She had to go out in the Grape
Arbor when she wanted to chew Gum, and she kept her Reading Matter
under the Mattress. Nearly every high-speed Bachelor in Town had been
forbidden the Premises bec