But they’ll soon learn—”

It was just at this moment that Reva barged in, and her father looked up, annoyed. The steady, searching eyes of Paige Madison were on his face, and he had an inkling that it was going to take some explaining before he had this young man educated in the ways of the wary world. Steady eyes that saw through evasions and clever devices, and objected to anything that was not in the open clearly. He was just beginning to feel that he was getting somewhere in this explanation, he was just getting hold of the right words to express what he wanted to say, when this interruption occurred. He frowned at his daughter.

“Now Dad, you needn’t send me out, for I won’t go. You asked me to be here tonight and made me give up two most important engagements to stay at home and meet your new assistant, and now you get stuffy and take him off into another room with the door shut, and that’s not fair. I demand that you come out and be interesting. We’ve got a bridge game ready, and we need you both.”

Paige gave a furtive glance at his wristwatch.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I don’t play bridge, so I wouldn’t be an addition to your company. I beg you will excuse me.”

“Oh, but that’s ridiculous,” said the girl. “If you really don’t know how, I’ll teach you. I’ve taught a lot of people, and you’re smart enough to learn quickly. I know, for Dad said you were a good accountant.”

“Thank you,” said Paige coolly, “but I wouldn’t care to learn. You’ll have to excuse me!”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake, why not?”

The young man smiled impersonally.

“I just wouldn’t be interested,” he said. “I haven’t time to play.”

“Oh, but you must,” said the girl firmly. “Everybody has to have some recreation. Isn’t that right, Dad?”

But her father was sitting with an annoyed frown. “Reva, you’ll simply have to stop annoying us,” he said. “We are talking business, and it’s quite important. Run out now, and shut the door.”

“Indeed, no!” said the girl sharply. “You asked me to be here to dinner to entertain your guest, and you’ve got to keep your part of the contract and make me have a good time. If you can’t make your guest come and play bridge, then what will you do? We might have some music. Perhaps he sings?” She gave a sharp look at the young man. “I’m sure you could give us some samples of the kind of song you used to sing in the army.”

“No,” said Paige, “I’m not a singer.”

“Well, then, why don’t you ask me to play? I can play myself. At least I’ve had enough expensive lessons to be able to amuse you a little.”

Suddenly Mr. Chalmers rose and spoke sharply.

“That will do, Reva. You go in the other room for half an hour, and then we’ll come out. Now go!”

“Indeed, no!” said the girl. “I’m not letting you off for any half hour. You can do your talking down at the office tomorrow. I claim tonight as mine!” She twined her wheedling arm in her father’s until she actually forced him to go with her, and the young man, of course, had to follow.