Though Draycott Deyo was in the throes of difficulties concerning baptism by immersion and might possibly have seen a connection, it must be admitted that he did not. He considered feminine bathing an immoral subject, and gave her some of his ideas on the depravity of modern society.
But to offset that unfortunate occurrence Bernice had several signal success to her credit. Little Otis Ormonde pleaded off from a trip East and elected instead to follow her with a puppylike devotion, to the amusement of his crowd and to the irritation of G. Reece Stoddard, several of whose afternoon calls Otis completely ruined by the disgusting tenderness of the glances he bent on Bernice. He even told her the story of the two-by-four and the dressing-room to show her how fruitfully mistaken he and everyone else had been in their first judgment of her. Bernice laughed off that incident with a slight sinking sensation.
Of all Bernices conversation perhaps the best known and most universally approved was the line about the bobbing of her hair.
Oh, Bernice, when you goin to get the hair bobbed?
Day after to-morrow maybe, she would reply, laughing. Will you come and see me? Because Im counting on you, you know.
Will we? You know! But you better hurry up.
Bernice, whose tonsorial intentions were strictly dishonorable, would laugh again.
Pretty soon now. Youd be surprised.
But perhaps the most significant symbol of her success was the gray car of the hypercritical Warren McIntyre, parked daily in front of the Harvey house. At first the parlor-maid was distinctly startled when he asked for Bernice instead of Marjorie; after a week of it she told the cook that Miss Bernice had gotta holda Miss Marjories best fella.
And Miss Bernice had. Perhaps it began with Warrens desire to rouse jealousy in Marjorie; perhaps it was the familiar though unrecognized strain of Marjorie in Bernices conversation; perhaps it was both of these and something of sincere attraction besides. But somehow the collective mind of the younger set knew within a week that Marjories most reliable beau had made an amazing face-about and was giving an indisputable rush to Marjories guest. The question of the moment was how Marjorie would take it. Warren called Bernice on the phone twice a day, sent her notes, and they were frequently seen together in his roadster, obviously engrossed in one of those tense, significant conversation as to whether or not he was sincere.
Marjorie on being twitted only laughed. She said she was mighty glad that Warren had at last found someone who appreciated him. So the younger set laughed, too, and guessed that Marjorie didnt care and let it go at that.
One afternoon when there were only three days left of her visit Bernice was waiting in the hall for Warren, with whom she was going to a bridge party. She was in rather a blissful mood, and when Marjorie also bound for the party appeared beside her and began casually to adjust her hat in the mirror, Bernice was utterly unprepared for anything in the nature of a clash. Marjorie did her work very coldly and succinctly in three sentences.
You may as well get Warren out of your head, she said coldly.
What? Bernice was utterly astounded.
You may as well stop making a fool of yourself over Warren McIntyre. He doesnt care a snap of his fingers about you.
For a tense moment they regarded each other Marjorie scornful, aloof; Bernice astounded, half-angry, half-afraid. Then two cars drove up in front of the house and there was a riotous honking. Both of them gasped faintly, turned, and side by side hurried out.
All through the bridge party Bernice strove in vain to master a rising uneasiness. She had offended Marjorie, the sphinx of sphinxes. With the most wholesome and innocent intentions in the world she had stolen Marjories property. She felt suddenly and horribly guilty. After the bridge game, when they sat in an informal circle and the conversation became general, the storm gradually broke. Little Otis Ormonde inadvertently precipitated it.
When you going back to kindergarten, Otis? someone had asked.
Me? Day Bernice gets her hair bobbed.
Then your educations over, said Marjorie quickly. Thats only a bluff of hers. I should think youd have realized.
That a fact? demanded Otis, giving Bernice a reproachful glance.
Bernices ears burned as she tried to think up an effectual comeback. In the face of this direct attack her imagination was paralyzed.
Theres a lot of bluffs in the world, continued Marjorie quite pleasantly. I should think youd be young enough to know that, Otis.
Well, said Otis, maybe so. But gee! With a line like Bernices
Really? yawned Marjorie. Whats her latest bon mot?
No one seemed to know. In fact, Bernice, having trifled with her muses beau, had said nothing memorable of late.
Was that really all a line? asked Roberta curiously.
Bernice hesitated. She felt that wit in some form was demanded of her, but under her cousins suddenly frigid eyes she was completely incapacitated.
I dont know, she stalled.
Splush! said Marjorie. Admit it!