"Nothing in particular. Why?"
"Well, Carl has a very dear friend who wants to go out with us tonight and we think it would be nicer for him if there was another girl beside me in the party. I know a lot of girls I could ask, but I don't want to ask just any one. He's a peach of a fellow and I'm asking you because, really, I think it's mean to pick just any kind of a girl for a man. Even if it is only for the evening. I want him to have somebody nice. You know how it is, Lillian."
"Yeh."
"Can you come?"
"I guess so. Where are you going?"
"We have no plans. Why?"
"Nothing. I just asked. Well, you can pick me up here, can't you?"
"Sure. Around nine."
"All right."
Lillian hung up the receiver and started back to her room.
"Going out, Lillian?" Rose called.
"Yessum. Want anything?"
"No. I was just asking out of plain curiosity."
Lillian opened her closet door and stood leaning against the jamb gazing drearily at what she saw. Two hangers on the clothes-arm. One held a velvet dress. It had been a good dress, but it was worn now. Badly worn. Lillian yanked the other hanger down. There was a suit upon it. Could she wear the suit? Too cold out. How about the suit with the cape over it? Funny-looking.
