“I saw him beg you to go out upon the balcony.
“And next a scream!
“Butternut is carried in on a stretcher and you stroll back looking like an incense burner.
“I seek to see Butternut. I cannot. I seek explanation from you——”
“If only you hadn’t begun with that usual stuff of clubbing my curls, Tawdry!—I just made up my mind to let you remain in suspense a while. But now I’ll tell all!
“I tried to play fair, Tawdry, tried to play fair,” said Verbeena earnestly, “like the square little fellow I am.”
“Did Butternut ask you to marry him out there on the balcony last night?”
“He did.”
“Well then?”
“Tawdry, old chap, I overplayed my hand. I threw myself into his arms cooing ‘Bertie, dearest Bertie’ in as ladylike a manner as my bringing up allows. And then he hugged me. And to show him I really loved him, don’t you know, I hugged him back. I just let myself go, old dear!”