Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/176

 She glanced across at him quickly, as if seeking some hidden meaning in his words.

"No one can be a law unto themselves," she said quietly.

He then proceeded to tell of the embarrassments arising from his acquaintance with her.

"I could smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish, and live like the proverbial lord," he explained, "and all for nothing. Such is the power of reflected glory."

She laughed, only half-believing him.

"But there's another side to the picture," he went on. "It's more difficult to retain than to win popularity. I shall have to work for it."

"Work for it?" she queried, looking up at him with puzzled brows.

"The proffered smokes will fail and the drinks will cease unless I do what is expected of me, introduce to you the whole gang."

"Mr. Beresford!" she cried. "What an absolutely horrible idea."

"You needn't be alarmed," he hastened to assure her. "I have no intention of doing anything so foolish."

"Foolish!"

"There are exactly thirty-nine unattached males staying here," he explained. "I've counted them very carefully. They range in age from seventeen to seventy. Assuming the equal rights of man, this would mean that I should speak to you once every