"You know lots of women do." "I have never formed the habit." "Cocktail for you, sir ?" said the waiter briskly, flipping his towel on the table.

"Martini, or Manhattan ?" I dropped my gaze from the girl's face to the menu card.

It seemed to me her eyes had pleaded with me.
"No; make mine coffee too," I replied gravely, "and hurry the cook up, will you." We sat there waiting without further speech, she nervously fingering the card, her eyes veiled by lowered lashes.

I glanced cautiously across at her, conscious of my cheap clothing, and vaguely wondering why my usual off-hand address had so suddenly failed.

I felt embarrassed, unable to break the silence by any sensible utterance.