“Disappointed me at the last minute. I’ll have to get someone — — ”

“We’ve plenty. You’re coming up to our place.”

“But, Mary, I can’t. I couldn’t. I’m tired. This room — — ”

“A hole. Wait till you see The Place. Gardens and breakfast rooms and statues and fountains and them Jap boys runnin’ up and down like mice. We rented it for a year from that Goya Ciro. She’s gone back East. How she ever made good in pictures I don’t know, and her face like a hot-water bag for expression. Lyddy’s going to build next year. They’re drawin’ up the plans now. The Place’ll be nothin’ compared to it when it’s finished. Put on your hat. The boys’ll