But--why ?" "I like Tootles awfully.

She's one in a million.

But somehow it's--oh, I dunno,--mighty difficult to talk to her." "Poor little devil," said Howard involuntarily.
"But she's having a real good time--isn't she ?" "Is she ?" He helped himself to a mild highball in reluctant deference to his weight.
"I've never seen her look so well," said Martin.
Wondering whether to tell the truth about her state of mind, which his quick sophisticated eyes had very quickly mastered, Howard drank, and decided that he wouldn't.

It would only make things uncomfortable for Martin and be of no service to Tootles.

If she loved him, poor little soul, and he was not made of the stuff to take advantage of it, well, there it was.