"No. I despise him, because he is a Catholic and ridicules his own."
Her husband knew controversy was not the way to get a favor. "I guess you're right about that, Allie. Anyway, try being pleasant to Kimberly. The way you know how to be, Allie--the way you caught me, eh?" He drew her to him with breezy enthusiasm. Alice showed some distress.
"Don't say such things, please."
"That was only a joke."
"I hate such jokes."
"Very well, I mean, just be natural," persisted MacBirney amiably, "you are fascinating enough any old way."
Alice manifested little spirit. "Does it make so much difference to you, Walter, whether we pay attention to him?"
MacBirney raised his eyebrows with a laughing start. "What an innocent you are," he cried in a subdued tone. And his ways of speech, if ever attractive, were now too familiar. "Difference!" he exclaimed cheerily. "When they buy he will name the figure."
"But I thought they had decided to buy."
"The executive committee has authorized the purchase. But he, as president, has been given the power to fix the price. Don't you see? We can afford to smile a little, eh?"