He said it so calmly, so naturally that she took a sly peep at his
face. It revealed nothing but blissful imperturbability.

"I'm glad you agree with me. You see, I've always thought you were
horribly broken up when I--when I found that I also was indulging in
a foolish streak. I believe I came to my senses before you did,
though, and saw how ridiculous it all was. Children do such queer
things, don't they?" It was his turn to take a sly peep, and his
spirits went down a bit under the pressure of her undisguised
frankness.

"How lucky it was we found it out before we ran away with each
other, as we once had the nerve to contemplate. Gad, Dorothy, did
you ever stop to think what a mistake it would have been?" She was
bowing to some people in a brougham, and the question was never
answered. After a while he went on, going back to the original
subject. "I shall see Mrs. Garrison to-night and talk it over with
her. Explain to her, you know, and convince her that I don't in the
least care what the gossips say about me. I believe I can live it
all down, if they do say I am madly, hopelessly in love with the
very charming fiancee of an Italian prince."

"You have me to reckon with, Phil; I am the one to consider and the
one to pass judgment. You may be able to appease mamma, but it is I
who will determine whether it is to be or not to be. Let us drop the
subject. For the present, we are having a charming drive. Is it not
beautiful?"

To his amazement and to hers, when they returned late in the
afternoon Mrs. Garrison asked him to come back and dine.