ght. Wouldn't lose the opportunity if I were you.
(Looking at his watch.) You'll just about have time to do it now if
you start at once.

[Grasps Barlow by arm, and tries to force him out. Barlow holds
back, and is about to remonstrate, when Dorothy enters. Both men
rush to greet her; Yardsley catches her left hand, Barlow her right.

Dorothy (slightly embarrassed). Why, how do you do--this is an
unexpected pleasure--both of you? Excuse my left hand, Mr. Yardsley;
I should have given you the other if--if you'd given me time.

Yardsley. Don't mention it, I pray. The unexpectedness is wholly
mine, Miss Andrews--I mean--ah--the pleasure is--

Barlow. Wholly mine.

Dorothy (withdrawing her hands from both and sitting down). I
haven't seen either of you since the Perkinses dance. Wasn't it a
charming affair?

Yardsley. Delightful. I--ah--I didn't know that the Perkinses--

Barlow (interrupting). It was a good deal of a crush, though. As
Mrs. Van Darling said to me, "You always meet--"

Yardsley. It's a pity Perkins isn't more of a society man, though,
don't you think?

Dorothy. O, I don't know. I've always found him very pleasant. He
is so sincere.

Barlow. Isn't he, though? He looked bored to death all through the
dance.

Yardsley. I thought so too. I was watching him while you were
talking to him, Barlow, and such a look of ennui I never saw on a
man's face.

Barlow. Humph!

Dorothy. Are you going to Mrs. Van Darling's dinner?

Barlow. Yes; I received my bid last night. You?

Dorothy. Oh yes!

Yardsley (gloomily). I can't go very well. I'm--ah--engaged for
Tuesday.

Barlow. Well, I hope you've let Mrs. Van Darling know. She's a
stickler for promptness in accepting or declining her invitations.
If you haven't, I'll tell her for you. I'm to see her to-night.

Yardsley. Oh no! Never mind. I'll--I'll attend to it.

Barlow. Oh, of course. But it's just as well she should know in
advance. You might forget it, you know. I'll tell her; it's no
trouble to me.

Dorothy. Of course not, and she can get some one to take your place.

Yardsley (desperately). Oh, don't say anything about it. Fact is,
she--ah--she hasn't invited me.

Barlow. Ah! (Aside.) I knew that all along. Oh, but I'm clever!

Dorothy (hastily, to relieve Yardsley's embarrassment). Have you
seen Irving, Mr. Yardsley?

Yardsley. Yes.

Barlow (suspiciously). What in? I haven't seen you