"Well, cripes, what did she do, read about Lillian and me in the newspapers? What did you tell her about Lillian for, Anna?"
"She used to know Lillian when we worked together, see? I had to explain about you and her when Lillian started giving me so many things for the apartment."
"Oh, call it a day," said Lillian. "What the hell? I don't care whether I was invited or not. I wouldn't have gone anyhow."
Louise was sitting near Lillian now with her arm about her. She whispered, "I told Anna she should have asked you. 'After all,' I said, 'Lillian's always been a good friend to you.'"
Anna began to cry. "If it wasn't for my mother," she said, "I'd have asked Lillian. Only my mother is so old-fashioned."
"Oh, can it," ordered Lillian. "I'm telling you I don't care. I'm a kept woman and I don't care that I'm not welcome in respectable homes."
"You're as good as anybody else," Hubert blazed. "You're as good as Louise or Anna!"
Anna threw Lillian an imploring glance. Lillian was never one to let her friends down.
"You mean I'm just as good at heart, Hubert. Well, I've tried to be decent to people, but you know some of the older folks still count a girl's goodness by the number of men she's disappointed. Anna didn't mean to slight me. We're all friends. Go on, Hubert, go out and get a bottle of gin."
"I will not," he said. "I'm not going to buy gin for
