No doubt they were fitted to understand each other.
It occurred to her, too, that John Burleson and Rita Tevis had always been on a friendly footing rather quieter and more serious than the usual gay and irresponsible relations maintained between two people under similar circumstances.
Sometimes she had noticed that when affairs became too frivolous and the scintillation of wit and epigram too rapid and continuous, John Burleson and Rita were very apt to edge out of the circle as though for mutual protection.
"You're not posing for John, are you, Rita ?" she asked.
"No.

He has a bad cold, and I stopped in to see that he wore a red flannel bandage around his throat.

A sculptor's work is so dreadfully wet and sloppy, and his throat has always been very delicate." "Do you mean to say that you charge your mind with the coddling of that great big, pink-cheeked boy ?" laughed Valerie, "Coddling!" repeated Rita, flushing up.

"I don't call it coddling to stop in for a moment to remind a friend that he doesn't know how to take care of himself, and never will." "Nonsense.

You couldn't kill a man of that size and placidity of character." "You don't know anything about him.