"There, there! No one ever going to hurt you. You're dear; yes, you are!"
He was much embarrassed to discover those staring others still present. But the flapper swiftly revived. It seemed to be perfectly over for the flapper. She announced that every one must hurry.
Hurriedly, with every one, it seemed, babbling nonsense of remote matters, they sat at a table, and ate of cold food from around a bed of flowers. Bean ate frankly. He was hungry, but he took his part in the talk as a gentleman should.
They were toasting the bride in champagne.
"Never drink," protested Bean to the proffered glass.
"Won't happen every day, old top," suggested the waster.
He drank. The sparkling stuff brought him new courage. He drained the glass.
"I knew they were trying to keep me off that board of directors," he confided to Breede, "specially that oldest one."
"That your first drink s'morning?" asked Breede in discreet tones.
"First drink I ever took. Had two eggs's morning."