This, while he inwardly sneered at it, avenged him upon his own too keen sense of them, and, together with his temporary allegiance to Margaret's goodness, kept him from retaliating Christine's vulgarity.

He said, "I don't see how that could be," and left the question of flattery to settle itself.
The people began to go away, following each other up to take leave of Mrs.Horn.Christine watched them with unconcern, and either because she would not be governed by the general movement, or because she liked being with Beaton, gave no sign of going.

Mela was still talking to the student of human nature, sending out her laugh in deep gurgles amid the unimaginable confidences she was making him about herself, her family, the staff of 'Every Other Week,' Mrs.Mandel, and the kind of life they had all led before she came to them.

He was not a blind devotee of art for art's sake, and though he felt that if one could portray Mela just as she was she would be the richest possible material, he was rather ashamed to know some of the things she told him; and he kept looking anxiously about for a chance of escape.

The company had reduced itself to the Dryfoos groups and some friends of Mrs.Horn's who had the right to linger, when Margaret crossed the room with Conrad to Christine and Beaton.
"I'm so glad, Miss Dryfoos, to find that I was not quite a stranger to you all when I ventured to call, the other day.