without being annoyed by mushy couples. It’s a shame——”
But he had escaped to the lobby, and the stout redfaced woman evidently had no intention of pursuing him.
He forced a laugh. “Funny, wasn’t it?”
“I rather wanted to see the rest of the picture,” pouted Dorothy. She didn’t, but Tommy had to be put in his place—painlessly, if possible.
“Never mind, dear,” he said, pressing her arm so sharply that she withdrew it. “We'll see it somewhere else sometime. Now, let’s go and inspect a coffee house.”
He led Dorothy to a little place which boasted orange-shaded lamps on marble-topped tables.
“You’re an awfully good sport,” he said, as he finished ordering pastry and coffee for two. “It was rather an experience, wasn’t it?”
Dorothy smiled wanly. It might have been embarrassing if the stout woman had followed them to the street.
“That’s another thing I like about you,” he continued. “You take things pretty much as they come. If I were a young man ready to propose——”
He slackened his verbal pace and watched the effect of his words.
“-I suppose I’d ask you whether you weren’t even willing to take me pretty much as I come, but-"
“Listen, Tommy!”
Dorothy had the floor. She would let him know directly how she regarded his insinuations.
“Don’t say such things, please. I’m not interested in marriage and things like that. Don’t let’s talk about them.”
He laughed.
“Is that technique?” he inquired. “You must be pretty well hardened to proposals.”
[96]
