"You are losing your decoration," she murmured with leisurely good-nature. "Nobody to do anything for you."
Kimberly looked at the parting lei with some annoyance, but if he entertained doubts as to its needing attention he expressed none. "These things are a nuisance anyway," he declared at length, lifting the lei impatiently over his head and depositing it without more ado on a console. "We will leave it there."
"Where else have you been all this time?" demanded Lottie with an indolent interest.
"All over the country--even across the Rockies."
"Across the Rockies! And a whole big car to yourself! You must love solitude. And now you are buying a lot of refineries."
"Not I--the companies are."
"Oh, it's all the same."
"Not precisely; this MacBirney purchase is not by my advice or with my approval."
"He is in there now, Imogene is talking with him."
"The trip was extremely tedious," said Kimberly, casting his eyes slowly around for means of escape.