They were dancing.
"Well, he's married. Three kids."
"And how many children have you, Eddie?"
"Me?" He laughed. "Have I forgotten to tell you that? Well, I'm still at large, untrammeled, free. There've been women, but not the woman."
His voice put on a pleasing facetiousness.
"Mustn't mind an old friend getting sentimental. But after you they had to measure up to something—and didn't."
Since the night Erik had singled her out at the party no man had spoken to her that way. She listened slightly amazed. It confused her. His eyes, as they danced, were jolly and polite. But they watched her too keenly. Erik might misunderstand. Her love somehow resented being looked at and spoken to like that. She hurried back to their first topic.
"What became of Millie Pugh, Eddie?"
"Married. A Spaniard or something. Two kids and an automobile. Saw them in Brazil somewhere."
"And Arthur Stearns?"