“I’ll say I’ve never been so tempted before,” he answered.
“Oh, you’re bound to come to it!” cried Irene. “Grace can’t pretend she’s never been kissed. She’s just a little coy, that’s all.”
“I’m not coy!” Grace protested. “But I’m all out of practice.”
“Well, we can easily fix that!” said Kemp, jumping to his feet. “I’m going to kiss you right now. My sense of hospitality demands it.”
“Not much you’re not!” cried Irene, forcing him back into his chair. “I see you kissing Grace!”
“Jealous!” cried Kemp, striking his hands together with delight. “Jealous at last! But you needn’t be scared Grace. There’s no fun kissing a girl against her will.”
“How do you know it would be against my will?” Grace demanded.
“Well, it would be against mine,” said Irene. “Ward, why don’t you keep Grace interested? I’m not going to have Tommy falling in love with her. We’ve had some girls out here who played up to Tommy and tried to take him away from me. That’s why I brought Grace. She’s an old pal of mine and my little boy’s not going to flirt with her, is you Tommy?”
“Of course I isn’t!” Kemp answered and in proof of his loyalty he kissed Irene again.
The food Jerry was serving called for praise and the Japanese grinned his appreciation of the compliments they bestowed upon his cooking. Kemp carved the turkey; he always did his own carving; it gave the home touch, he explained. Irene said she would make the salad dressing and that would be another home touch. The essentials were placed before her and she composed the dressing after a recipe Kemp had taught her. It was the inspiration of Kemp’s pet waiter in a New York club. Kemp talked for some time of waiters he knew and their genius in the composition of salads.