youths of his age stupidly callow or at best, in their innocence, mildly
exciting. Leighton, seated at H lne's left, watched Lewis curiously.

"They've taken to him," said H lne.

"Yes," said Leighton. "Nothing wins a woman of the world so quickly as
the unexpected. The unexpected adds to the ancient lure of curiosity the
touch of tartness that gives life to a jaded palate. Satiated women are
the most grateful for such a fillip, and once a woman's grateful, she's
generous. A generous man will give a beggar a copper, but a generous
woman will give away all her coppers, and throw in herself for good
measure."

"When you have to try to be clever, Glen, you're a bore," remarked
H lne.

"I'm not trying to be clever," said Leighton. "There's a battle going on
over there, and I was merely throwing light on it."

The battle was worth watching. The two young women were as dissimilar as
beauty can be. Both had all the charms of well-nurtured and
well-cared-for flesh. Splendid necks and shoulders, plenty of their own
hair, lovely contour of face, practice in the use of the lot, were
theirs in common. But Vi was dark, still, and long of limb. Blanche was
blonde, vivacious, and compact without being in the least heavy.

Vi spoke slowly. Even for an English woman she had a low voice. It was a
voice of peculiar power. One always waited for it to finish. Vi knew its
power. She tormented her opponents by drawling. Blanche also spoke
softly, but at will she could make her words scratch like the sharp