Do you mean to say that men notice eyebrows?
Yes subconsciously. And when you go home you ought to have your teeth straightened a little. Its almost imperceptible, still
But I thought, interrupted Bernice in bewilderment, that you despised little dainty feminine things like that.
I hate dainty minds, answered Marjorie. But a girl has to be dainty in person. If she looks like a million dollars she can talk about Russia, ping-pong, or the League of Nations[62] and get away with it.
What else?
Oh, Im just beginning! Theres your dancing.
Dont I dance all right?
No, you dont you lean on a man; yes, you do ever so slightly. I noticed it when we were dancing together yesterday. And you dance standing up straight instead of bending over a little. Probably some old lady on the side-line once told you that you looked so dignified that way. But except with a very small girl its much harder on the man, and hes the one that counts.
Go on. Bernices brain was reeling.
Well, youve got to learn to be nice to men who are sad birds. You look as if youd been insulted whenever youre thrown with any except the most popular boys. Why, Bernice, Im cut in on every few feet and who does most of it? Why, those very sad birds. No girl can afford to neglect them. Theyre the big part of any crowd. Young boys too shy to talk are the very best conversational practice. Clumsy boys are the best dancing practice. If you can follow them and yet look graceful you can follow a baby tank across a barb-wire sky-scraper.
Bernice sighed profoundly, but Marjorie was not through.
If you go to a dance and really amuse, say, three sad birds that dance with you; if you talk so well to them that they forget theyre stuck with you, youve done something. Theyll come back next time, and gradually so many sad birds will dance with you that the attractive boys will see theres no danger of being stuck then theyll dance with you.
Yes, agreed Bernice faintly. I think I begin to see.
And finally, concluded Marjorie, poise and charm will just come. Youll wake up some morning knowing youve attained it and men will know it too.
Bernice rose.
Its been awfully kind of you but nobodys ever talked to me like this before, and I feel sort of startled.
Marjorie made no answer but gazed pensively at her own image in the mirror.
Youre a peach to help me, continued Bernice.
Still Marjorie did not answer, and Bernice thought she had seemed too grateful.
I know you dont like sentiment, she said timidly.
Marjorie turned to her quickly.
Oh, I wasnt thinking about that. I was considering whether we hadnt better bob your hair.
Bernice collapsed backward upon the bed.
IV
On the following Wednesday evening there was a dinner-dance at the country club. When the guests strolled in Bernice found her place-card with a slight feeling of irritation. Though at her right sat G. Reece Stoddard, a most desirable and distinguished young bachelor, the all-important left held only Charley Paulson. Charley lacked height, beauty, and social shrewdness, and in her new enlightenment Bernice decided that his only qualification to be her partner was that he had never been stuck with her. But this feeling of irritation left with the last of the soup-plates, and Marjories specific instruction came to her. Swallowing her pride she turned to Charley Paulson and plunged.
Do you think I ought to bob my hair, Mr. Charley Paulson?
Charley looked up in surprise.
Why?
Because Im considering it. Its such a sure and easy way of attracting attention.
Charley smiled pleasantly. He could not know this had been rehearsed. He replied that he didnt know much about bobbed hair. But Bernice was there to tell him.
I want to be a society vampire, you see, she announced coolly, and went on to inform him that bobbed hair was the necessary prelude. She added that she wanted to ask his advice, because she had heard he was so critical about girls.
Charley, who knew as much about the psychology of women as he did of the mental states of Buddhist contemplatives, felt vaguely flattered.
So Ive decided, she continued, her voice rising slightly, that early next week Im going down to the Sevier Hotel barber-shop, sit in the first chair, and get my hair bobbed. She faltered noticing that the people near her had paused in their conversation and were listening; but after a confused second Marjories coaching told, and she finished her paragraph to the vicinity at large. Of course Im charging admission, but if youll all come down and encourage me Ill issue passes for the inside seats.
There was a ripple of appreciative laughter, and under cover of it G. Reece Stoddard leaned over quickly and said close to her ear: Ill take a box right now.
She met his eyes and smiled as if he had said something surprisingly brilliant.
Do you believe in bobbed hair? asked G. Reece in the same undertone.
I think its unmoral, affirmed Bernice gravely. But, of course, youve either got to amuse people or feed em or shock em. Marjorie had culled this from Oscar Wide. It was greeted with a ripple of laughter from the men and a series of quick, intent looks from the girls. And then as though she had said nothing of wit or moment Bernice turned again to Charley and spoke confidentially in his ear.