As soon as they had landed at the Gate, little Florine would say in
loud, clear Tones that would carry as far as the Sitting-Room Window,
"Oh, Mr. Gilblitz, I have had a most charming Evening, and I wish to
thank you most heartily."

Whereupon the Escort, standing 8 Feet away, with his Concertina Hat
in his Hand and the Face in the Moonlight beaming with child-like
Innocence, would come back thusly: "It's awfully good of you to say
that. Good Night."

[Illustration: _Florine._]

After which, Mother was supposed to believe that they had been 8 feet
apart all Evening. But Mother was Canny and up to Snuff, with a Memory
that reached back at least 25 Years. These little One-Act Plays under
the Window did not throw her off for any part of a Minute. Before
Florine turned in she was Cross-Examined and required to tell
with whom she had danced, and why and how often and what he said.
Occasionally the Daughter worked the Mental Reservation. In other
Words, she held out on Mother. She said that she had sat out most of
the Numbers, but she admitted going through a Square Dance with the
Young Man who passed the Plate at the Episcopal Church.

At which Mother would wink the Off Eye and murmur, "Is that so?" with
the Loud Pedal on the "That." Also something about being more than
Seven.

One of Florine's Ancestors on Mother's Side happened to be on Earth at
the time of the Revolution, and Father often spoke of a Second Cousin
who had been in Congress until the District tumbled to him. Because of