"Jolly crowd," he remarked.

"They were certainly noisy enough," said Nan indifferently; then after a
moment, "Where _do_ you suppose some of them get their clothes?"

Keith's mind was full of the excitement of the evening. He found himself
reviewing the company, appraising it, wondering about it. Was Teeny
McFarlane as gay as she appeared? He had never seen women smoke before; but
that dark girl with the red thing in her hair puffed a cigarette. Perhaps
she was Spanish--he had not met her. And Mrs. Morrell--hanged if he quite
dared make her out--it wouldn't do to jump to conclusions nor too hastily
to apply Eastern standards; this was a new country, fatal to make a fool
mistake; well-built creature, by gad--

Nan interrupted his thoughts. He came to with a start.

"I think we'd better put the big armchair in the front room, after all,"
she was saying.




XII


Next morning Keith allayed what little uneasiness his conscience might
harbour by remarking, as he adjusted his collar:

"Mrs. Morrell is an amusing type, don't you think? She's a bit vulgar, but