"Well, camel," said Betty cheerfully, "how do you like our happy
party?"
The camel indicated that he liked it by rolling his head
ecstatically and executing a gleeful kick with his hoofs.
"This is the first time that I ever had a tete-a-tete with a man's
valet round"--she pointed to the hind legs--"or whatever that is."
"Oh," said Perry, "he's deaf and blind. Forget about him."
"That sure is some costume! But I should think you'd feel rather
handicapped--you can't very well shimmy, even if you want to."
The camel hung his head lugubriously.
"I wish you'd say something," continued Betty sweetly. "Say you like
me, camel. Say you think I'm pretty. Say you'd like to belong to a
pretty snake charmer."
The camel would.
"Will you dance with me, camel?"
The camel would try.
Betty devoted half an hour to the camel. She devoted at least half
an hour to all visiting men. It was usually sufficient. When she
approached a new man the current debutantes were accustomed to
scatter right and left like a close column deploying before a
machine gun. And so to Perry Parkhurst was awarded the unique
privilege of seeing his love as others saw her. He was flirted with
violently!
IV
This paradise of frail foundation was broken into by the sound of a
general ingress to the ballroom; the cotillion was beginning.
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