"I thought you and Silvette were to use the apartment when you come to town. Your room is ready; but here you are in white marble and palatial grandeur overlooking the park. Explain those phenomena, pretty maid!"
"We're guests of Mr. Rivett, Jim. Otherwise, no palatial grandeur for us. We wanted to go to the studio apartment; I was perfectly crazy to go. But we saw it would hurt Mr. Rivett's feelings, and that he had set his kind old heart on entertaining us.... Oh, Jim, I don't want to seem ungrateful, but if older people only knew that the less they entertain the young, the better they are beloved!"
"That's a rather sad truth, but it's the truth," he said. "Rivett handed me one black eye, too, bless his heart. I had so counted on your being in the apartment.... Well, you'll come sometime—" He hesitated, looked at her, troubled.
"When is Silvette to be married?"
"They think in the spring; they haven't settled it yet."
"Then you and she will be in the apartment this winter?"
"If you want us," she said almost shyly.
"Want you! It will be paradise! I'll make my salary go as far as it will."
"Indeed, you won't! Silvette and I chip in pro rata, or we refuse your marble halls!"
"I'm afraid I'll have to agree, Japonette. My poverty, not my will, consents!"