CHAPTER XVI
THE WAYS OF GIRLS
"Il n'est pas de rose assez tendre
Sur la palette du printemps,
Madame, pour oser prétendre
Lutter contre vos dix-sept ans."
GAUTIER.
"Did you see the people from Villa Shai-poo?" asked Haidee, as they walked home.
"No, which were they?" Val was away in a land of her own peopling and her eyes were vague.
"An awfully distinguished old man, with a little white goatee and nice American-looking boots; and two boys...." She stopped abruptly. Val's attention was attracted.
"What kind of boys?"
"Oh, well! I didn't notice them much. You know all French boys look as if they wear stays. I dare say these are n't so bad though. Hortense says the eldest is in a regiment très chic. The other one failed for the navy last year." Her manner was meant to suggest pointed indifference.
"They must be more than boys."
"The one with the greeny-blue eyes is twenty-four and the one with dark blue ones is nineteen and a half," responded Haidee. Val smiled at this artless testimony of her "indifference."