Dot was glad that the front doorbell rang. She had visions of Maude holding her while Ted spilled the lovely, horrible drink down her throat. Eddie was sitting near the piano smiling at her confusion. She felt that he could be relied on, but there was no comfort in that. She didn't want Ted and Eddie pummeling each other all over the room. The cocktail was forgotten, however, when Maude returned with Sue Cudahy and Pat Macy in tow.
Sue was big and blonde, as Dot remembered her, with small blue eyes under thin, undeveloped brows. Her nose was well shaped, but her mouth was large, and her teeth, when she smiled, looked like three sides of a square.
Pat, who was suspected of being a soda jerker, had extremely red hair and a small nervous face. It was impossible to guess at the color of his eyes because he kept blinking them continually.
He sat down near Eddie. They felt kindly toward each other, but neither knew why, nor were they conscious of a bond.
Cocktails were not mentioned to the newcomers. Sue watched Maude drink the one Dot had refused, and there was a slight shadow of amusement in her eyes.
Ted leaned back in his chair and surveyed Maude's friends wonderingly. What did she want of them? What did they give her?
His glance shifted to Maude. She was talking to Sue.
"Oh, Sue, I found some of the loveliest hats and dresses for that friend of yours who needs them." Maude looked at Sue meaningly as she spoke. Her gaze was as sharp and significant as an elbow thrust. She wanted there to be no question in Sue's mind of the kindness of her old school chum.
"That so?" Sue said, carelessly.
"There's one hat in particular, I think will be very becoming—" Maude went on.
