had just finished the annual tournament over at the Hedgewood Country Club. But she felt that she could not enjoy any sort of party in her present state of mind and during the afternoon she telephoned Lucy and pleaded illness.
"You are not letting last night's little fracas worry you, are you, my dear?" came the cool drawl of Mrs. Hodge over the wire. "You are very foolish if you do. Better come over, well or ill, and forget your troubles. There are some awfully nice, handsome boys coming. Rao-Singh asked me particularly if you would be on hand."
But Carmelita stood by her white lie, which was, after all, partly true. She did not feel well. Her head throbbed. Besides, she could not face the curious, all-seeing eyes, the wagging scandal-tongues of Lucy's set. And particularly she could not face Rao-Singh after the kiss which had revealed his dangerous feelings toward her.
After her dinner alone that Sunday evening Carmelita sat for several minutes thoughtfully over her coffee. Lucy's crowd would all be at the Hodges'. It is always comforting if one is able to think in the midst of grave difficulty that taking one more step in the wrong direction cannot make matters worse and may be just the trick that will save the day. It was
