"Out all night again?" he growled.
"Pretty nearly," said Esmé cheerfully, setting a very even row of very white teeth into an apple.
"Humph! What was it this time?"
"A dinner-dance at the Norris's."
"Have a good time?"
"Beautiful! My frock was pretty. And I was pretty. And everybody was nice to me. And I wish it were going to happen right over again to-night."
"Whom did you dance with mostly?"
"Anybody that asked me."
"Dare say. How many new victims?" he demanded.
"Don't be a silly Guardy. I'm not a man-eating tiger or tigress, or the Great American Puma—or pumess. Don't you think 'pumess' is a nice lady-word, Guardy?"