“Will you shake hands on it?” He put out his large, white, beautifully formed hand and grasped mine before I had half extended it.

I felt myself flushing hotly.  Of all the absolutely idiotic things in the world, this standing hand in hand with Harry Underwood, in a formal pact of friendship or forgiveness or whatever he imagined the hand-clasp signified, was the most ridiculous.  He was quick enough to fathom my distaste, but he clasped my hand tighter and, bending slightly so that he could look straight into my eyes he said, lazily smiling: 

“You are the most charming prevaricator I know.  You come pretty near to hating me, little lady.  But you won’t dislike me long.  I’ll make a bet with myself on that.”

“Hold that pose just a minute.  Don’t move.  It’s simply perfect.”

Lillian Underwood’s merry voice interrupted her husband’s declaration.  With clever mimicry she struck the attitude of a nervous photographer just ready to close the shutter of his camera.  Dicky stood just behind her too, also smiling, but while Lillian’s merriment evidently was genuine, I detected a distaste for the proceedings behind Dicky’s smile, which I knew was forced.

Lillian slipped in an imaginary plate, then springing to one side stood pretending to clasp the bulb of the shutter in her hand, while she counted:  “One, two, three, four, five—­thank you!”

“Now if you will just change your expressions,” she rattled on.  “Harry, why don’t you take both her hands?  Then if Mrs. Graham will smile a little we will have a sentimental gem, or if she makes her expression even a trifle more disapproving than it is I can label it, ‘Unhand me, villain.’”

“I never take a dare,” returned her husband, and snatched my other hand.  But I was really angry by this time, and I wrenched my hands away with an effort and threw my head a trifle haughtily, although fortunately I was able to control my words: 

“Do you know, people, that there will be no food for you tonight unless I busy myself with its preparations immediately?  Mrs. Underwood, won’t you entertain those boys and excuse me for a little while?”

I went into the dining room and put on the kitchen apron I had taken off when I heard the voices of my early guests.  Almost immediately Lillian appeared arrayed in the apron I had given her.  She came up to the table and surveyed it with appraising eyes.

“I am glad of this chance to speak with you alone, for I want to explain to you about him.”

She stopped with an embarrassed flush.  I gazed at her in amazement.  Lillian Underwood flustered!  I could not believe my eyes.

“You are not used to us or our ways, or I shouldn’t bother to tell you this.  But I can see that you are much annoyed at Harry, and I don’t blame you.  But you mustn’t mind him.  He is really harmless.  He falls in love with every new face he sees, has a violent attack, then gets over it just as quickly.  You are an entirely new type to him, so I suppose his attack this time will be a little more prolonged.  He’ll make violent love to you behind my back or before my face, but you mustn’t mind him.  I understand, and I’ll straighten him out when he gets too annoying.”