"The play's begun. To be an inexhaustible subject of chatter is to
serve a purpose in life. I'd prefer a nobler one, still-- Who was my
inquiring friend?"

"I've forgotten her name. She was the most miserable-looking woman I
ever saw. On any one else her clothes would have been stunning. Don't
think she and her husband hit it off very well. There's another lady
he finds more entertaining than she is, and she hasn't the nerve to
tell him to quit it or go to Ballyhack. Women make me tired!"

"They tire men, also. A woman who accepts insult is hardly apt to be
interesting. Tell me about the luncheon. Who was at it?"

"Same old bunch. Grace left out nothing that could be brought in.
Most of the entertaining nowadays is a game of show-down, regular
exhibitions of lace and silver and food and flowers and china and
glass, and gorgeous gowns and stupid people. I'm getting sick of them."

"Why don't you start a new kind? You might have your butler hand a
note to each of your guests on arriving, stating that all the things
other people had for their tables you had for yours, but only what was
necessary would be used. Then you might have a good time. It's
difficult to talk down to an excess of anything."

"Wish I had the nerve to do it!" Kitty again changed her position;
fixed more comfortably the pink-lined, embroidered pillows at her back,
and looked at me uncertainly. I waited. Presently she leaned toward
me.

"People are talking about you, Danny. You won't mind if I tell you?"