Page:Minnie Flynn (1925).pdf/86

 watched that placid face lifted by smiles, those kindly eyes rolling upward.

"Did everything collapse at once when Beauregard threw her over?" asked Alicia.

"They had an awful row over some other girl, then Eleanor cleared out. She told him he could go to the devil, that she was already started on her career and nothing could stop her."

Mrs. Lee paused impressively, looking from one girl to another.

"What do you think that poor little fool did, in spite of my advice?" she asked them.

A moment of suspense.

"She cleared out and left him without a coat on her back or a cent in her stocking."

"Well, you'd never think Eleanor was so dumb to look at her, would you?"

"You can't judge a girl by her forehead, Alicia. A high forehead don't mean brains, you know!"

"Gee, what happened after that?" cried Minnie, suddenly breaking the long, contemplative silence.

They all started.

"I beg your pardon, dearie, have we ever been introduced?" asked Mrs. Lee in a honeyed voice, rising and ambling over to her. "I don't seem to have met you before."

"My name is Minnie Flynn—Mineola," she corrected quickly.

"How do you do?" said Mrs. Lee, her face pocketing into a smug, fatuous smile. "I'm Evangeline Lee, you've probably heard of me. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Thank you," almost inarticulately from Minnie. "I'm very much obliged to you."