The women talked of leaking roofs and water pipes and useless bathrooms and outrageous costs. Phyllis sat in the Palm Room with the village girls. It happened that they talked mainly about their fathers. Some had complained of paternal strictness.
"Men are terrible! They make so much trouble," said Frances Smith. "It seems as if they hated to see anybody have a good time."
"Mother and I do as we please and say nothing," said Phyllis. "We never tell father anything. Men don't understand."
Some of the girls smiled and looked into one another's eyes.
There had been a curious undercurrent in the party. It did not break the surface of the stream until Mrs. Bing asked Mrs. Pendleton Ames, "Where is Susan Baker?"
A silence fell upon the group around her.
Mrs. Ames leaned toward Mrs. Bing and whispered, "Haven't you heard the news?"
"No. I had to scold Susan Crowder and Martha Featherstraw as soon as I got here for neglecting their work and they've hardly spoken to me since. What is it?"
"Pauline Baker has run away with a strange young man," Mrs. Ames whispered.
Mrs. Bing threw up both hands, opened her mouth and looked toward the ceiling.