{{betlep174.png}} Say, Betty--" Chet turned back hesitatingly. "I'd go a little slow with Jack Huxley. What little I know about him isn't so good." "What is it, Chet? He's smart and a per- fect, gentleman whenever I see him." "Oh, I don't suppose there's much out of the way. He runs with a pretty wild crowd, though, and he hasn't been here long." "Well, I scarcely think that he would be in- vited by the countess to a party for Lucia if he weren't all right." Betty spoke with some de- cision and Chet looked at her soberly. "Don't you think so? Maybe not. Did you meet him there?" "Yes. Good-bye, Chet. I'll be ready tomorrow night and tell your mother that I'd love to dress up and be in a booth." Betty, who rather regretted a bit of steel that she had put into her tone before, made this fare- well as friendly as possible. But Chet's answer- ing smile could scarcely be called one and he hurried down the hall to another exit, in order to avoid Jack, Betty supposed. Oh, well, she couldn't help it. Jack must be all right! Why, he was a perfect dear, as Mathilde called him. Not that Mathilde's opinion of any one would be a recommendation, however. He did have some different ideas of things and they had had [[174]]