“Ah! You or Alice!” A shade of disappointment came over her face as she dropped his hand. But she rallied in a moment.
“Poor boy! You ought to have a guardian. What heroine of romance are you running after now?”
“In my new story?”
“Of course.”
“She isn't very well defined in my mind yet. But a lovely girl, without anything peculiar, no education to speak of, or career, fascinating in her womanhood, such as might walk out of the Bible. Don't you think that would be a novelty? But it is the most difficult to do.”
“Negative. That sort has gone out. Philip, why don't you take the heroine of the Mavick ball? There is a theme.” She was watching him shrewdly, and saw the flush in his face as he hurriedly asked,
“Did you ever see her?”
“Only at a distance. But you must know her well enough for a literary purpose. The reports of the ball give you the setting of the drama.”
“Did you read them?”
“I should say I did. Most amusing.”