“With rings on her finger and bells on her toes, And she shall make mischief wherever she goes.” Stan rattled it off quickly under his breath.
“Music, isnt it?” put in Ellen laughing. “I always say mischief.”
“Well how’s college?” asked Baldwin in a dry uncordial voice.
“I guess it’s still there,” said Stan blushing. “I wish they’d burn it down before I got back.” He got to his feet. “You must excuse me Mr. Baldwin.... My intrusion was infernally rude.” As he turned leaning towards Ellen she smelled his grainy whiskey breath. “Please forgive it, Miss Oglethorpe.”
She found herself holding out her hand; a dry skinny hand squeezed it hard. He strode out with swinging steps bumping into a waiter as he went.
“I cant make out that infernal young puppy,” burst out Baldwin. “Poor old Emery’s heartbroken about it. He’s
darn clever and has a lot of personality and all that sort of thing, but all he does is drink and raise Cain.... I guess all he needs is to go to work and get a sense of values. Too much money’s what’s the matter with most of those collegeboys.... Oh but Elaine thank God we’re alone again. I have worked continuously all my life ever since I was fourteen. The time has come when I want to lay aside all that for a while. I want to live and travel and think and be happy. I cant stand the pace of downtown the way I used to. I want to learn to play, to ease off the tension.... That’s where you come in.”
“But I don’t want to be the nigger on anybody’s safety-valve.” She laughed and let the lashes fall over her eyes.
“Let’s go out to the country somewhere this evening. I’ve been stifling in the office all day. I hate Sunday anyway.”
“But my rehearsal.”