mainder there was a smattering of the Broadway theatrical crowd, a movie idol at present at odds with his producing company and not working but accompanied by a bobbed-haired, Benda-like dancer-wife, a pair of New York newspaper columnists of the flippant school, and Prince Rao-Singh. Lucy Hodge liked to leaven the lump of rather vapid society idlers, who were generally in the majority at her parties, with what she termed "clever people who are really doing something." Though what they were doing she neglected to specify.
Carmelita found little trouble in entering into the frivolous spirit of this assemblage. She was the most beautiful woman there and just as strikingly gowned as any. She was used to this sort of life. It was like getting back into a game she had not played for a year or more, but was nevertheless extremely proficient at. She was a little awkward in finesse at first; she could not for a while get over the feeling that all their talk and actions were a little silly and she was sure that Dudley would have agreed to this heartily. But she was anxious to have a good time and she forgave much. The atmosphere was infectious. Soon she was among the gayest of the gay. The unaccustomed intoxicants went to her head a little and spread a tolerant warmth through her, and loosened her tongue.
