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"You're not called upon to defend Billy Breckenridge, Vivian," said Elinor Vanderwall

"Nobody's blaming Billy, and Rachael Breckenridge can stand on her own feet. But what we're saying is that Clarence, in spite of what they do to protect him, will get himself dropped by decent people if he goes on as he IS going on! He was tennis champion four or five years ago; he played against an Englishman named Waters, who was about half his age; it was the most remarkable thing I ever saw -- "

"Wonderful -- I should say so!" Miss Vanderwall sighed

"Do you remember that one set went to nineteen -- twenty-one? Each man won on his own service -- 'most remarkable match I ever saw! But Clarence Breckenridge couldn't hold a racket now, and his game of bridge is getting to be absolutely rotten. Crime, I call it!"

"I did, for one," said Miss Vanderwall

"Since that child was born she's been all the world to him. When he and Paula were divorced -- she was the offender -- he fretted himself sick for fear he'd done that precious five-year-old an injury. She didn't get on with her grandmother, she drove governesses insane, for two or three years there was simply no end of trouble. Finally he took her abroad, for the excellent reason that she wanted to go. In Paris they ran into Rachael Fairfax and her mother -- let's see, that was seven years ago. Rachael was only about twenty-one or two then. But she'd been out since she was sixteen. She had the bel air, she was beautiful -- not as pretty as she is now, perhaps -- and of course her father was dead, and Rachael was absolutely on the make. She took both Clarence and Billy in hand. I understand the child was wearing jewelry and staying up until all hours every night. Rachael mothered her, and of course the child came to admire her. The funny thing is that Rachael and Billy hit it off very well to this day.

"She and Clarence were married quietly, and came home. And I don't think it was weeks, it was DAYS -- and not many days -- later, that Rachael realized what a fool she'd been. Clarence had eyes for no one but the girl, and of course she was a fascinating little creature, and she's more fascinating every year."

"I know, my dear Peter," Miss Vanderwall assented quickly.

"But Billy's impulsive, and affectionate, at least, and Rachael is neither. Anyway, Billy's at the age now when she can't think of anything but herself. Her frocks, her parties, her friends -- that's all Clarence cares about!"

"Why, what else would she do?" Miss Vanderwall asked briskly.

"She doesn't care for her enough to see that there's fair play," Elinor Vanderwall said quickly.

"Well, Rachael's a cold woman, and a hard woman -- in a way," Miss Vanderwall said musingly

"But she's a good sport. She gets a home, and clothes, and the club, and a car and all the rest out of it, and she knows Billy and Clarence do need her, in a way, to run things, and to keep up the social end. More than that, Clarence can't keep up this pace long -- he's going to pieces fast -- and Billy may marry any day -- "

"Very much alive," Miss Vanderwall said.

"Married to an Italian count -- Countess Luca d' Asafo. His people have cut him off; they're Catholics. She has two little girls; there's an uncle who's obliged to leave property to a son, and it serves Paula quite right, I think. Where they live, or what on, I haven't the remotest idea. I saw her in a car on Fifth Avenue, not so long ago, with two heavy little black-haired girls; she looked sixty."

"You may," said Miss Vanderwall, rising.

"You're dining at the Chases', aren't you, Billy? So am I. But I was going to change here. Where are you dining, Rachael?"

"Where's Clarence, Rachael?"

"I thought it was the night of Berry Stokes' dinner," suggested Miss Vanderwall.

"Oh -- " Miss Vanderwall began and then abruptly stopped.

"Oh!" said she mildly

"Why so pensive, Rachael?" she asked

"How's Clancy?"

"I KNEW it must have been an orgy!" Miss Vanderwall declared

"That was a silly slip of mine in the car. Billy doesn't know he went, I suppose?"

"Men are queer," Miss Vanderwall said profoundly

"H'm!"

"Did you ever think that another child might make a big difference to Clarence, Rachael? That he might come to care for a son as he does for Billy, don't you know -- "

"No, I didn't suppose you were!" she assented hastily.

"Tantrum nothing," said Elinor

"Rachael -- but why do you stand it?"

"Well. I'd"

"I'd -- why don't you GET OUT? Simply drop it all?" she asked.

"Nervous, Rachael?" asked Miss Vanderwall

"It must be wonderful to marry a man like Greg," said the bridesmaid thoughtfully. "He simply IS everything and HAS everything -- "

"YOU!" Elinor smiled. "That I should live to see it! You -- in love!"

"I don't have to!" asserted Miss Vanderwall, with a hearty kiss nevertheless, "for it will be your own fault entirely if there's ever the littlest, teeniest cloud in the sky!"

"Awful!" said Elinor

"Aren't you smart with your professional terms?" Elinor Pomeroy laughed

"What I'D like to know," she added interestedly, "what I'D like to know is, who's doing this for Magsie Clay? Vera Villalonga says she knows, but I don't believe it. Magsie's a little nobody, she has no special talent, and here she is leading in a Barrett play -- "

"Now I think Magsie's as straight as a string," the unconscious Mrs. Pomeroy went on, "but she must have a rich beau up her sleeve, and the question is, who is he? I don't -- "

" -- I don't doubt," floundered Elinor, "that -- that is -- and of course Magsie IS a talented creature, so that naturally -- naturally -- some girl makes a hit every year, and why shouldn't it be Magsie? Which is right, Peter, 'why shouldn't it be she' or 'why shouldn't it be her?' I never know," she finished

"Cute play, but I don't think much of Magsie!" Elinor Pomeroy said

"Magsie'd kill you for that," Elinor said.

"Oh, I'm strong for it!" Elinor said vivaciously. "It'll cheer Magsie up. She's probably scared blue, and even I can see that this isn't making much of a hit!"