She saw Jarvis before the curtain, making a first-night speech.
Bambi fluttered the joy-bringing letter above her head and circled the
breakfast-room in a whirl of happiness.
"Good evening, Mrs. New York, and all you people out there! We're here,
Jarvis and I."
"Well, believe me, that high-brow stuff is on the toboggan."
"Tell your husband to put you in a play, and I'll put it on." "Much
obliged, I'll tell him. Good morning."
Her tale had the place of honour and was illustrated by James Montgomery
Flagg, the supreme desire of every young writer.
"Softlings! Poor softlings!" Jarvis muttered, Bambi's words coming back
to him.
"I have got to do something violent, Ardelia. I am going to jerk the
stems off of berries, chop the pits out of cherries, and skin peaches."
He taught himself to abandon his old introspective habits during these
days on the box.