around thus." And then Alicia gave a very good imitation of the way
Mr. Forbes walked around. She didn't ridicule him; she merely
burlesqued his manner as he paused to speak to them in his funny,
abrupt way.

"What are you, my dear?" she said, looking at Dolly. "Are you a
specimen I can use in my collection? No? Are you a fashionable
butterfly? I say, Bernice," she suddenly broke off, "why was he so
curious about the way we live at home, and who brings us up?"

"I don't know; and anyway, he knew how long our mothers have been dead
and who takes care of us. Why did he ask those things over and over?"

"I think he's a bit absent-minded. Half the time he was thinking of
matters far removed from this charming quartette of bewitching
beauties. Well, it's up to us to make our own good time. I move we
corral the big limousine for to-morrow morning and go in search of
adventure."

"To the Metropolitan?" suggested Dolly.

"Yes, if you like, though I'd rather go to the shops," and Alicia
gathered up her hairpins to depart. Her long light hair hung round her
shoulders, and she pushed it back as she affectionately kissed Dolly
and Dotty good-night. "You are sure two darlings!" she said
emphatically.