Contrary Mary

"The difference," Mary told him, smiling, "between your cooking and

Susan Jenks' is the difference between an epic--and a nursery rhyme.

They're both good, but Susan's is unpremeditated art."

"I take off my hat to Susan Jenks," said the General--"when her poetry

expresses itself in waffles and fried chicken."

Mary was devoting herself to the General. Porter Bigelow who was on

the other side of her, was devoting himself to Aunt Isabelle.

Aunt Isabelle was serenely content in her new office of chaperone.

"I can hear so much better in a crowd." she said, "and then there's so

much to see."

"And this is the time for the celebrities," said Porter, and wrote on

the corner of the supper card the name of a famous Russian countess at

the table next to them. Beyond was the Speaker of the House; the

British Ambassador with his fair company of ladies; the Spanish

Ambassador at a table of darker beauties.

Mary, listening to Porter's pleasant voice, was constrained to admit

that he could be charming. As for the freckles and "carrot-head," they

had been succeeded by a fine if somewhat florid complexion, and the

curled thickness of his brilliant crown gave to his head an almost

classic beauty.

As she studied him, his eyes met hers, and he surprised her by a quick

smile of understanding.

"Oh, Contrary Mary," he murmured, so that the rest could not hear,

"what do you think of me?"

She found herself blushing, "Porter."

"You were weighing me in the balance? Red head against my lovely

disposition?"

Before she could answer, he had turned back to Aunt Isabelle, leaving

Mary with her cheeks hot.

After supper, the young host insisted that Leila and the General should

go home in his limousine with Barry and Aunt Isabelle.

"Mary and I will follow in a taxi," he said in the face of their

protests.

"Young man," demanded the twinkling General, "if I accept, will you

look upon me in the light of an incumbrance or a benefactor?"

"A benefactor, sir," said Porter, promptly, and that settled it.

"And now," said Porter, as, having seen the rest of the party off, he

took his seat beside the slim figure in the green velvet wrap, "now I

am going to have it out with you."

"But--Porter!"

"I've a lot to say. And we are going to ride around the Speedway while

I say it."