"I will--some of them," drawled Vi; "but not just yet." She sat down.

"What on earth are you doing in town?" asked Leighton.

"Well," said Vi, "up to three weeks ago I was here at the beck and call
of your son. Then he suddenly took French leave." She turned and faced
Leighton. "Where has he gone? It isn't like one of you to be rude in
little things."

"I don't think Lew meant to be rude," said Leighton. "He's gone to South
America. He heard about some cousins he 'd lost track of, and he just
bolted the next morning."

"Cousins!" said Vi. "I didn't know any one still went in for family ties
to the extent of South America, short of a fat death."

"No," said Leighton, smiling; there's no money in this trip. Why were
you at his beck and call?"

"Model," said Vi, coolly. "He's been doing me."

"Doing _you_!" said Leighton, looking at her curiously.

"There, there," said Vi, "don't let your imagination run away with you.
Not in the nude. By the way, can you let me have the key? I left
something in the studio, and I didn't like to go to Nelton."

"Certainly," said Leighton. "I'll walk by there with you."