showing her neck and shoulders, which were her best points, for she was
full bosomed and rounded without losing firmness of flesh. Nan was a trifle
taken back at this gorgeousness, for she had not dressed. Keith, with his
usual directness, made no secret of pretending to be utterly overwhelmed.

"I didn't know we were expected to dress for a real concert with flowers!"
he cried, laughing.

Mrs. Morrell shrugged her fine shoulders indifferently.

"This old rag!" she said. "Don't let that bother you. I always like to put
on something cool for the evening. It's such a relief."

It developed that Morrell had an engagement, and could not stay.

"He was so disappointed," purred Mrs. Morrell.

She was all eager for the music, brushing aside this and other
preliminaries.

"You play, sing?" she asked Nan. "What a pity! I'm afraid you're going to
be terribly bored."

She turned instantly to Keith, hurrying him to the piano, giving the
impression of being too eager to wait--almost the eagerness of a drunkard
in the presence of drink. And this in turn conveyed a vibrating feeling of
magnetism, of temperament under restraint, of possibilities veiled. The
impact struck Keith's responsive nature full. He waked up, approached the
piano with reviving interest. She struck idle chords and flashed at him
over her shoulder a brilliant smile.