Page:The beautiful and damned.djvu/166

152 : Hear you got out a book, Dicky. 'Gratulations!


 * (Stiffly) Thanks.


 * (Innocently) What is it? College stories?


 * (More stiffly) No. Not college stories.


 * Pity! Hasn't been a good book about Harvard for years.


 * (Touchily) Why don't you supply the lack?


 * I think I saw a squad of guests turn the drive in a Packard just now.


 * Might open a couple more bottles on the strength of that.


 * It was the shock of my life when I heard the old man was going to have a wet wedding. Rabid prohibitionist, you know.


 * (Snapping his fingers excitedly) By gad! I knew I'd forgotten something. Kept thinking it was my vest.


 * What was it?


 * By gad! By gad!


 * Here! Here! Why the tragedy?


 * What'd you forget? The way home?


 * (Maliciously) He forgot the plot for his book of Harvard stories.


 * No, sir, I forgot the present, by George! I forgot to buy old Anthony a present. I kept putting it off and putting it off, and by gad I've forgotten it! What'll they think?


 * (Facetiously) That's probably what's been holding up the wedding.