Just beyond the Tapp girls was approaching a group of women and men.
Lawford recognized them as the Perritons and their friends. Lawford
had no particular interest in the summer crowd himself; but he knew the
Perritons were influential people in the social world.
With them was a majestic person the young man had never seen before. Undoubtedly the "Lady from Poughkeepsie." Her pink countenance and beautifully dressed gray hair showed to excellent advantage under the black and white parasol she carried.
She stepped eagerly before the party, calling:
"Louise!"
Louise Grayling raised her head and waved a welcoming hand.
"What brings you forth so early in the morning, auntie?" she asked, her voice ringing clearly across the sands.
There were at least four dumfounded spectators of this meeting, and they were all named Tapp.
Lawford stood rooted to the sands, feeling quite as though the universe had fallen into chaos. It was only L'Enfant Terrible who found speech.
"Oh, my!" she cried. "What a mistake! The movie queen turns out to be some pumpkins!"