the hours, nevertheless enjoyed the delicious breakfast, when she
had quite a spirited chat with one or two of the men guests, who
were the only ones to appear. Then she and Bert walked into the
village to church, and wandering happily home, were met by Dorothy
in the car, and whirled to the club. Here the pleasant morning air
was perfumed with strong cigars already, and while Bert played
nine holes of golf, and covered himself with glory, Nancy won five
rubbers of bridge, and gained the respect of Dorothy and Elaine at
the same time. She was more like her spontaneous self at luncheon
than at any other time during the visit, and driving home, agreed
with Bert that, when you got to know them, Dorothy's set was not
so bad!

"Her baby is frightfully ugly, but that doesn't matter so much,
with a boy," said Nancy. "And I don't think that a woman like
Elaine is so rude as she is stupid. They simply can't see anything
else but their way of thinking, and dressing, and talking, and so
they stare at you as if you were a Hottentot! I had a nice time,
especially to-day--but never again!"

"Dorothy never did have any particular beau," Bert observed, "She
just likes to dress in those little silky, stripy things, and have
everyone praising her, all the time. She'll ask us again,
sometime, when she remembers us."




Chapter Twelve