“I’ll say she has! Pop hates it as much as me, but he’s scared to kick. Mother says vegetables contain all the proteins you want. Mother says, if you eat meat, your blood-pressure goes all blooey. Do you think it does?”
“Mine seems pretty well in the pink.”
“She’s great on talking,” conceded the boy. “She’s out to-night somewhere, giving a lecture on Rational Eating to some ginks. I’ll have to be slipping up to our suite before she gets back.” He rose, sluggishly. “That isn’t a bit of roll under that napkin, is it?” he asked, anxiously.
Archie raised the napkin.
“No. Nothing of that species.”
“Oh, well!” said the boy, resignedly. “Then I believe I’ll be going. Thanks very much for the dinner.”
“Not a bit, old top. Come again if you’re ever trickling round in this direction.”
The long boy removed himself slowly, loath to leave. At the door he cast an affectionate glance back at the table.
“Some meal!” he said, devoutly. “Considerable meal!”
Archie lit a cigarette. He felt like a Boy Scout who has done his day’s Act of Kindness.