“I didn’t mean tonight,” she explained. “Wednesday I mean. I understand you’re really leaving on Wednesday. Such a shame, when you’re having a good time! My boys hate to go back to school.”
His jaw dropped as if someone had hit him on the back of the head. “Wednesday?”
“Did I misunderstand?” she said. “I’m sure your mother said Wednesday.” “Oh, of course. Yes, Wednesday. Well, I must be going. Good-night.”
But that was in four days! He walked towards Teddy, instinctively seeking help. Why hadn’t she told him? She had been too excited, probably; she had forgotten or put it off until she would have more time to argue. He rallied in his despair, and grew calm.
“Teddy,” he said, over Lucy’s shoulder, “I’ve got to talk to you.”
“Shhh.” Teddy waved him to silence. Bob was talking to Lucy Parker, and he wanted to listen.
“It’s a modern orgy,” he was saying. “It’s the nearest approach to a public orgy that we’ll ever have in New Mexico.”
Lucy glanced around, with her lips pursed scornfully, and remarked that for an orgy it was very dull indeed. “Look, there’s hardly anyone here to perform. Everyone is being either very dull or most circumspect.”
“Of course,” said Bob triumphantly. “That’s the modern note. All the essence of the orgy is in the aftermath. We’ve lost the knack for public vice. We’ve——”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” whispered Blake, “come on. This is awfully important.”