“Just as soon as Aunt Louise can get here. I want her to be with me. I—and, of course, I’ll want you, too.”

“When will Aunt Louise get here?”

“Tomorrow or next day, I think. I haven’t heard definitely.”

“You’ve written her?”

“Yes. She’ll probably take the night plane. I mailed her my extra keys so she can come right on in whenever she gets here, even if we aren’t home.”

Anita Bonsal was silent, but Fay Allison wanted to talk. “You know how Dane is. He’s always been sort of impersonal. He took you out at first as much as he did me, and then he began to specialize on me. Of course, you’re so popular, you didn’t mind. It’s different with me. Anita, I was afraid to acknowledge even to myself how deeply I felt, because I thought it might lead to heartache.”

“All my congratulations, dear.”

“Don’t you think it will work out, Anita? You don’t seem terribly enthusiastic.”

“Of course it will work out. It’s just that I’m a selfish devil and it’s going to make a lot of difference in my personal life—the apartment and all that. Come on; let’s get the dishes done. I’m going out tonight and I suppose you’ll be having company.”

“No, Dane’s not coming over. He’s going through a ceremony at his bachelor’s club—one of those silly things that men belong to. He has to pay a forfeit or something, and there’s a lot of horseplay. I’m so excited I’m just walking on air.”

“Well,” Anita said, “I go away for a three-day weekend and a lot seems to happen around here. I’ll have to start looking for another roommate. This apartment is too big for me to carry by myself.”

“You won’t have any trouble. Just pick the person you want. How about one of the girls at the office?”

Anita shook her head, tight-lipped.

“Well, of course, I’ll pay until the fifteenth and then—”

“Don’t worry about that,” Anita said lightly. “I’m something of a lone wolf at heart. I don’t get along too well with most women, but I’ll find someone. It’ll take a little time for me to look around. Most of the girls in the office are pretty silly.”

They did the dishes and straightened up the apartment, Fay Allison talking excitedly, laughing with light-hearted merriment, Anita Bonsal moving with the swift, silent efficiency of one who is skillful with her hands.

As soon as the dishes had been finished and put away, Anita slipped into a long black evening dress and put on her fur coat. She smiled at Fay and said, “You’d better take some of the sleeping pills tonight, dear. You’re all wound up.”