In Leila’s room Constance had said, the moment they were alone:
“Well, you certainly gummed it!”
“Oh, shoot! Dada wouldn’t buy that Nelson place if it only cost a
nickel.”
“Well, you didn’t do much to advance the cause!”
“See here,” said Leila, “one time’s just as good as another with Dada.
I knew he’d never agree to it. I only spoke of it because you gave me
the lead. You never seem to learn his curves.”
“If you’d backed me up right we could have got him interested and won
him over. Anybody could see that he was away off tonight--even more
difficult than usual!”
“Oh, tush! You and Shep make me tired. You take father too seriously.
All you’ve got to do with him is just to kid him along. Let’s have a
little drink to drown our troubles.”
“Now, Leila----”
Leila had drawn a hat-box from the inner recesses of a closet and
extracted from it a quart bottle of whiskey.
“I’m all shot to hell and need a spoonful of this stuff to pep me up!
Hands off, old thing! Don’t touch--Leila scream!” Constance had tried
to seize the bottle.
“Leila, _please_ don’t drink! The Claytons are having everybody of any
consequence at this party and if you go reeking of liquor all the old
tabbies will babble!”
“Well, darling, let them talk! At least they will talk about both of us
then!”
“Who’s talking about me?” Constance demanded.
“Be calm, dearest! You certainly wore the guilty look then. Let’s call
it quits--I’ve got to dress!”
She poured herself a second drink and restored the bottle to its hiding
place.