Well, just try it, that’s all� . And for God’s sake don’t make a mistake and tip Maxine.”

Pardee’s you find to be a plain box-like two-story frame house in a quiet and commonplace residential district. Plainly — almost scantily — furnished as to living room and dining room. The dining room comfortably seats just twenty, but the Pardees “take” eighteen diners — no more. This because Mrs. Pardee has eighteen of everything in silver. And that means eighteen of everything from grapefruit spoons to cheese knives; and finger bowls before and after until you feel like an early Roman. As for Maxine — the friendly warning is superfluous. You would as soon have thought of slipping Hebe a quarter on Olympus — a rather severe-featured Hebe in a white silk blouse ordered through Vogue.