Part 16 (1/2)
”What on earth, Catharine--”
”We had supper,--that's why I'm late.... I've got to have a dinner gown I tell you. Genevieve's is the smartest thing--”
”Where did you go?”
”To the Regina. I didn't want to--dressed this way but Cecil Reeve said--”
”Who?”
”Cecil--Mr. Reeve--one of Genevieve's friends--the man who was so crazy to meet me--”
”Oh! Who else was there?” asked Athalie drily.
”A Mr. Ferris--Harry Ferris they call him. He's quite mad about Genevieve--”
”Why did you drink anything?”
”I?”
”You did, didn't you?”
”I had a gla.s.s of champagne.”
”What else?”
”Nothing--except something pink in a gla.s.s--before we sat down to supper.... And something violet coloured, afterward.”
”Your breath is dreadful; do you realise it?”
Catharine seemed surprised, then her eyes wandered vaguely, drowsily, and she laid her gloved hand on Athalie's arm as though to steady herself.
”What sort of man is your new friend, Cecil Reeve?” inquired Athalie.
”He's nice--a gentleman. And they were so amusing;--we laughed so much.... I told him he might call.... He's really all right, Athalie--”
”And Mr. Ferris?”
”Well--I don't know about him; he's Genevieve's friend;--I don't know him so well.... But of course he's all right--a gentleman--”
”That's the trouble,” said Athalie in a low voice.
”What is the trouble?”
”These friends of yours--and of Doris, and of mine ... they're gentlemen.... And that is why we find them agreeable, socially.... But when they desire social amus.e.m.e.nt they know where to find it.”
”Where?”
”Where girls who work for a living are unknown. Where they never are asked, never go, never are expected to go. But that is where such men are asked, where such men are expected; and it is where they go for social diversion--not to the Regina with two of Winton's models, nor to the Cafe Arabesque with an Egyptian Garden chorus girl, nor--” she hesitated, flushed, and was silent, staring mentally at the image of C. Bailey, Jr., which her logic and philosophy had inevitably evoked.