New Britain herald., 1917-08-20
Why Lillian Underwood Invited Dr..
 Petit to the Dinner.

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 Petit to the Dinner. What was pr. Petit doing here at this dinner Lillian was giving to Robert Savarin?
 This is the question that beat an- grily against my brain as l mechanic ally rose to greet the guests who had come into Mrs. Underwood's beauti- full white and crimson living room.
 Dr.Pettit had no possible connec- ton with Robert Savarin or with the world of art, and he had not the close kinship and friendship which had guided Lillians invitation to my cousin, Jack Bickett, and his fiancee, Katherine Sonnot. And Lillian must have known that he had been the un- deriving cause of more than one un- pleasant scene between my husband and myself Why had she done it?
 The anwser to my question had to wait however for in another instant I was engaged in the general greet ings which welcomed the new guests Robert Savarin.
 Mrs. WatrOus, who, I knew from Lillian, had known Robert Savarin in the old days, was soon deep in remi- niscences with him, leaving the rest of the guests to their own devices. Jack and Katherine, of course came straight to me, and in my delight at seeing them I had the chance for only a perfunctory bow to the young physician, to whom little Mrs. Durkee was talking
 But before we were called into the dining room Lillian drew me aside for moment.
 "I didn't do it on purpose, child" she said. "I had asked Ralph Arm strong, a man who knew MT. Savarin years ago, but he was called out of town at the last minute. So. as it was a most informally gotten up affair I called up Dr. Petit, after I had tried two or three others, and he accepted. l don't think Dicky will mind"
 Is Jack Troubled?
 She rustled away and I put the young physician out of my mind with my vague uneasness concerning my cousin Jack and his f1ancee, my dear friend, Katherine Sonnot.
 All was not well with them. I was ! 1uite sure of that I studied them i 'ortively.
 l had seen very little of. them since 0icky had brought me home from illian's after our long separation. Katherine was tremendously busy . with the work which Dr. Braith- waite. the head of the hospital unit in France to which she belonged. had ,ntrusted to her. and Jack was still Llmost an invalid. The terrible wound he had received in action still roubled him more than he was will ng to admit. But it was neither atigue nor physical suffering that lad brought the intangible shadow to heir faces, I was sure of that.
 It was some difference between hem; something. I intuitively felt. ardly understood by themselves. I esolved to watch them carefully, to lelp them if I could.
 Dinner am served. Miss Lllllan.'
 Betty was perfect as she stood just nside the door, her coal-black face ,eamine beneath it's crimson turban, Ter enormous body neatly goWned In black dress and a white apron.
 A Transformed Dining Room.
 knew that Betty once had hanged her announcement to Din Ter is served" and that Lillian had mnlored her never to do such a thing gain.
 Little Marion, filled with childish had distributed tiny ards gviing us the names Of our inner partners before she went up- tairs to bed in the care of her old ,urse. whom Lillian had secured for