"To have an Edgerton as a guest would elevate our prospective employer to the seventh heaven of snobbery," said Silvette. "Diane and I would shine serenely in the reflected relationship----"
"Why, I'm not. I really mean it. My instincts have been so warped and materialized and commercialized that here I am seriously proposing to make family capital out of the name of one branch of the family. I really do mean it, Mr. Edgerton."
"Don't, please," he said, looking at her.
She met his eye calmly for a moment, then looked at her sister.
"Do you think it a decent thing to do?" she asked; "our making plans to live on Mr. Edgerton?"
"Good heavens!" he said impatiently, "my being part of a family combination isn't going to alter your success in any way."
"Your youth and beauty and good breeding make it sure. My name has nothing to do with it."
He laughed. "Because I've got to make a living, too."
"There are less humiliating ways of making a living--for you," said Diana steadily.
He looked first at Silvette, then at her, deliberately, and his face altered.
"I want to look out for you," he said, "and that's the plain truth."
"That," observed Silvette, "is the nicest thing he's said yet, Diane." She walked up to him and stood serenely inspecting him.
"_I_ vote for you. Diane, let's admit him. We're a poverty-stricken family, and we ought to combine. Besides, I like him to feel the way he does about us--not that it's necessary, of course--but it's--pleasant."
"I haven't any cash," said Edgerton, "but I've this apartment, which nobody can take away even if I starve; and I've some very fine clothes.... Won't you vote for me, Diana?" he added so naturally that neither seemed to notice his use of her first name.
Silvette waited a moment, watching her sister; then she said briskly: "Let's dress. We'll inspect your beautiful British clothing, cousin, and you shall see our prettiest afternoon gowns. Then we can tell better how such a combination would look. Shall we?"
Edgerton said to Diana: "Don't you _want_ me?"
She replied slowly: "I--don't--know," looked up at him, straight at him, thoughtfully.
"People may come at any time after two o'clock," said Silvette. "If they find you in flowered silk and a butterfly sash and me in a pigtail, they will certainly expect dances from us and probably Punch and Judy from our cousin."