IX
THEY got back to the city barely in time to dress for dinner. Basil dressed in twenty minutes, and then came into Teresa's room, handsome and smart, with his hat and coat on, and his watch in his hand. She was doing her hair; and it did not suit her, and had to be done over again.
"We ought to start in eight minutes," said Basil.
"All right. Go away now, that's a good boy, and don't bother," said Teresa easily.
Ten minutes passed and he returned. Teresa had just finished doing her hair. This time it suited her.
"Time to start," said Basil with a shade of vexation.
"Do go away! I'll be ready in three minutes, if you leave me alone," said Teresa sharply. "There's no use in being so beastly prompt. Nobody is."
"You know I hate being late," said Basil shortly, and went out.
Teresa had a new dress, blue and silver, which she had not even tried on. The belt was too loose, and had to be taken in hastily, and the
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