Iris laughed immoderately.
“You are a funny girl, really you are; why let such a matter trouble you? Besides, you’ll have Charlie Lien as partner. If you lose, he’ll pay the bill.”
I know I blushed and looked confused.
“Do you know,” Iris continued, “Charlie Lien’s taking you up is the funniest thing—”
“Why?” I demanded.
“Because you are so unlike Vivi Strange—”
“Vivi Strange?”
“Don’t you know?” said Iris. “Why I thought everybody knew!”
“No,” I had to say.
“Vivi Strange was Charlie’s old girl. Her mother has taken her to the Mediterranean for the benefit of her health,—so she says—that is her mother. But those whose chief delight it is to gossip say it was to get her away from Charlie.”