My own career's just one long brazen smirch of 'em! What I mean
is, Mildred's perfectly perfect compared to the rest of us."

"I see," he said, and seemed to need a moment or two of
thoughtfulness. Then he inquired, "What sort of treacherous
things do YOU do?"

"I? Oh, the very worst kind! Most people bore me particularly
the men in this town--and I show it."

"But I shouldn't call that treacherous, exactly."

"Well, THEY do," Alice laughed. "It's made me a terribly
unpopular character! I do a lot of things they hate. For
instance, at a dance I'd a lot rather find some clever old woman
and talk to her than dance with nine-tenths of these nonentities.
I usually do it, too."

"But you danced as if you liked it. You danced better than any
other girl I----"

"This flattery of yours doesn't quite turn my head, Mr.
Russell," Alice interrupted. "Particularly since Mildred only
gave you Ella Dowling to compare with me!"

"Oh, no," he insisted. "There were others--and of course
Mildred, herself."

"Oh, of course, yes. I forgot that. Well----" She paused, then
added, "I certainly OUGHT to dance well."