“I do,” Betty said. “I wanted to see you, so I came. In these emancipated days ladies call upon their men friends if they like. It’s archaic to prattle of chaperons.”
“Still we were all brought up in the fear of them.”
“Mine were brought up in the fear of me. I like this place, Dicky. Why don’t you give us more parties in it? You haven’t had a crowd here for months.”
“Everybody’s so busy,” Dick said, “we don’t 211 seem to get together any more. I’m willing to play host any time that the rest want to come.”
“You mean Nancy is so busy with her old Outside Inn.”
“You are busy there, too.”
“I’m not so busy that I wouldn’t come here when I was asked, Dicky.”
“Or even when you weren’t?” Dick’s smile took the edge off his obviously inhospitable suggestion.
“Or even when I wasn’t,” Betty said impudently. “Won’t you sit down, Mr. Thorndyke?”
“Can’t I call you a cab, Miss Pope?”