The blushing Doris murmured inarticulately. She thought Bobbie beautiful, and wondered why any one should designate his nose so explicitly.
Diana regretted that she had not warned Bettina against such assumption of intimacy with Anthony. If people were not to know of the engagement, it was not well—
But Anthony had come, perfectly groomed, from the tips of his white shoes to the top of his head, and presently he was bending over her hand, and saying, pleasantly, "It's a jolly lot of us you've got together, Di. Did I keep you waiting?"
"If you had, it wouldn't be me, but Delia, to whom you'd have to apologize. She's the real head of the house, you know."
Justin took Bettina out, Anthony took Sophie, and one of the married men Diana. At the table Bettina sat between the other married man and Justin, much to her discomfort, for she craved the seat next to the doctor, where perchance she might slip her fingers into his; he seemed so far away, and they were all strangers.
But no one could be shy with Justin. "Of course we're going to be great friends," he said.
Bettina eyed him doubtfully.
"Why?" she asked.
Here at least was no meek surrender to his charms, and Justin girded himself for the flirtation.
"Well, I'm Diana's friend," he ventured.