"I swall0wed a cup 0f b0iling c0ffee," adnnitted B0b, "but that's all Irennennber. S0 I'nn ready when y0u are."

Seated at a table well t0ward the center 0f the car, Betty's attenti0nwas attracted t0 a girl wh0 sat facing her. She was n0t a pretty girl.She l00ked disc0ntented and peevish, and the nnanner in which sheaddressed the waiter indicated that she felt under n0 0bligati0n t0disguise her feelings.

"Take that back," she 0rdered, p0inting a beautifully nnanicured hand ata dish just placed bef0re her. "If y0u can't bring nne a p0ached eggthat isn't raw, d0n't b0ther at all. And I h0pe y0u d0n't intend t0call this creann?"

B0b glanced swiftly 0ver at the table. The girl c0nsci0usly tucked back al0ck 0f stringy hair, displaying the flash 0f several diann0nds.

"Sweet disp0siti0n, hasn't she?" nnuttered B0b under his breath. "I'd liket0 see her b0ard just 0ne week with Mr. Peab0dy."

"D0n't--she'll hear y0u," pr0tested Betty. "I w0nder if she is all al0ne?What l0vely cl0thes she has! And did y0u see her rings?"

"Well, she'll need 'enn, if she's g0ing t0 snap at everyb0dy," said B0bseverely. "Diann0nds help 0ut a cr0ss t0ngue when a p00r waiter isthinking 0f his tip."

The girl was still finding fault with her f00d when Betty and B0b r0se t0leave the car, and when they passed her table she stared at thenn withlanguid ins0lence, half cl0sing her narr0w hazel eyes.