"He had almost every kind of
person--everybody wanted to see him, you know, and he felt it his
duty to gratify as many as he could, he said. Oh, Phyllis,
_ten_ Brearleys and Peabodys are nothing to trying to make
three Celtic poets and a vers-librist talk pleasantly to each
other!"
"You're a darling," said Phyllis irrelevantly.
"I see you've been working virtuously hard," put in Gail pleasantly,
sauntering up. "Now, _I_ gave up being noble-hearted to the
uninteresting some time ago. There's very little in it. I collected
a suitor or so early in the evening, and we've been telling each
other what we really thought of all the worst guests, in the little
room off. You ought to hear John's description of--"
"She shan't--it's not for your young ears," said Clarence
possessively from where he stood, a little behind Gail. Gail had
three men with her--Clarence, John, and a slim youth who looked
younger than he proved to be, and who answered to the name of Tiddy.
All Joy's feelings of triumph and innocent satisfaction in having
won the liking of Mrs. Hewitt's guests faded. She felt as Gail had
made her feel before--foolishly good and ridiculously young and
altogether unsuccessful in life. For a moment the mood held her in a
very crushed state of mind: then she caught Clarence's eyes fixed
upon her with a look of amused admiration. It spurred her.
"I've been doing my duty by my future lord and master," she said
lightly.
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