She was whirling near the balcony windows with a tall young friend who breathed, when there was an exclamation from a group of girls at the window. Vivian Jennings turned. She was a girl with the sort of eyes which, in one sweep, can find the only four-leafed clover in a forty-acre field.
“Gail!” she cried, almost dancing. “Gail! Do come and see it!”
Gail did not desert her partner; she merely started over to the window with one hand trailing behind her as an indication to follow, and immediately, without looking around, she called:
“Arly! Where’s Arly?”
What she saw was this. A rich brown limousine, in which the dome light was brightly burning, had drawn up to the steps. Inside, among the rich brown cushions and hangings, and pausing to light a leisurely cigarette, sat the most wickedly handsome man in the world! He was black-haired, and black-moustached and black-goateed, and had large, lustrous, melting black eyes, while on his oval cheeks was the ruddy bloom of health. Every girl in the window sighed, as, with a movement which was grace in every changing line, he stepped out of the brilliantly lighted limousine, and came slowly up the steps, tall, slender, magnificent, in his shining silk hat and his flowing Inverness, and his white tie, and his pleated shirt front—Oh, everything; correct to the last detail, except for the trifling touches of originality, down to his patent leather tips! With a wave of careless ease he flung back his Inverness over one shoulder, and rang the bell!
“Dick!” cried a voice just behind Gail’s ear. Gail had not known that any one was leaning heavily on her shoulders, but now she and Arly, with one accord, turned and raced for the vestibule!
“You handsome thing!” cried Arly, as he stepped into the hall and held out a hand to each of them. “I’ve a notion to kiss you!”
“All right,” he beamed down on her, sparing another beam for Gail. No, Gail had not exaggerated in memory the magic of his melting eyes. It could not be exaggerated!
“There aren’t any words to tell you how welcome you are!” said Gail, as the butler disappeared with his hat and Inverness.
“What on earth brought you here to bless us?” demanded Arly.