Mrs. Fennell, the hostess, a plain-faced, dumpy young matron, welcomed the new-comers, then made Lorelei known. As for Bob, he needed no introductions; a noisy outburst greeted him, and Lorelei's heart warmed at the welcome. There were a few embarrassing moments when she felt critical eyes measuring her, but her first instinctive appraisal of the other women made her easy. It needed no more than a modest estimate of her own attractions to tell her that she was the smartest person in this smart assembly; the swift, startled admiration of the men proved it beyond question.
A few moments of chatter, then she and Bob were led into the house again and up to a cool, wide bedroom. As Lorelei removed her motor-coat and bonnet she exclaimed breathlessly: "What a gorgeous house! And those people! They weren't the least bit formal."
Bob laughed. "Formality is about the last thing they're famous for. There's liable to be too much informality. Say! You made those dames look like the Monday morning wash-ladies' parade. I knew you would."
"You said this was the younger set—but that awful Thompson-Bellaire widow is here, and that blonde girl I met with her."
"Alice Wyeth?"
"Yes. I thought she was going to kiss you."
Bob grinned. "So did I. She will, too, if she feels like it."
"Won't you have anything to say about it?"
"What could I say? Alice does just as she likes. So does everybody else, for that matter. I've never gone in for this sort of thing very much."
After a moment Lorelei ventured, "I suppose they're all hard drinkers—"