ammunition, and because they were too weak from mirth to proceed. Keith
with elaborate mock gallantry turned and presented Mrs. Morrell with the
two plates.

"The spoils of war!" he told her.

"He should be decorated for conspicuous gallantry on the field of battle!"
cried some one.

The idea took. But they could find nothing appropriate until Teeny
McFarlane deliberately stepped up on the table and broke from the glass
chandelier one of its numerous dangling prisms. This called forth a mild
protest from Morrell--"Oh, I say!"--which was drowned in a wild shriek of
delight. The process of stepping down from the table tilted Teeny's wide
skirts so that for an instant a slim silken leg was plainly visible as far
as the knee. "Oh! oh!" cried every one. Some pretended to be shocked, and
covered their faces with spread fingers; others feigned to try for another
look. Teeny was quite unperturbed.

Keith was the centre of attention and a great success. But there were no
more tete-a-tetes. Mrs. Morrell managed to convey the idea that she was
displeased, and Keith was of a sufficiently generous and ingenuous
disposition to be intrigued by the fact. He had no chance to probe the
matter. In a moment or so Mrs. Morrell rose and strolled toward the
drawing-room. The others straggled after her. She rather liked thus to
emphasize her lack of convention as a hostess, making a pose of never
remembering the proper thing to do. Now she moved here and there, laughing
her shrill rather mirthless laugh, calling everybody "dearie," uttering
abrupt little platitudes. Keith found himself left behind, and rather out
in the cold. The company had quite frankly segregated itself into couples.