Debutante Hill by Lois Duncan Page A

in disconcerting Dirk. The last thing in the world he had ever expected was that he would find himself dating Lynn. But a boy like Dirk would resent being put on a spot. If he had been bitter and resentful of her before, what would he be like now?
    The question was not a comforting one.
    I never should have gone on with it, Lynn thought. Why didn’t I slip out while I could? Now I’m committed, and there’s not much I can do about it.
    She had not meant to mention the date much beforehand at home, but she was forced to because of Dodie who, for the first time in her live, asked her if she wanted to go to the movies.
    â€œIt’s a good show,” she said, “a Western. Good reviews and everything.”
    Lynn could not believe her ears.
    â€œYou want to go to a Western? How come? You never liked them before. And if you do want to go, why aren’t you going with Janie?”

    Dodie shrugged. “I don’t mind a Western once in a while, and I thought you—well, I just thought maybe you’d like to go. It really doesn’t matter to me one way or the other.”
    Lynn thought, did Mother ask her to go to the movies with me Saturday, in order to give me something to do to keep me from thinking about the dinner dance? It was not like something her mother would do. And yet there did not seem to be any other answer. She and Dodie never went to the movies together.
    â€œThanks,” she said now, “but I can’t. I’ve got a date.”
    â€œA date?” Dodie said in surprise. “Who on earth are you dating, with Paul away at college and all the eligible fellows at the debutante dance?”
    â€œDirk Masters.”
    â€œWho?” Dodie stared at her in amazement. “You’re joking!”
    â€œNo,” Lynn said, “I’m not joking. I really do have a date with him. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?”
    â€œWhy, he’s a juvenile delinquent!” Dodie exclaimed. “He’s already been in trouble a couple of times with the police. He’s wild and he runs around with a terrible crowd. How can you possibly—” Then, suddenly, a look of understanding crossed her face. “Oh, I see what you’re doing. You can’t date the Hill fellows because they’re all at the deb parties, so you’ll date the other extreme. Let Daddy meet Dirk once, and he’ll be begging you to get back with the old Hill crowd again.”
    There was admiration in her voice at the cleverness of the plan, but a note of contempt, too.
    â€œIt’s smart, Lynn, but it doesn’t sound like you.”

    â€œWhy, that wasn’t my idea at all!” Lynn protested. But even as she said it, her mind slid along Dodie’s words, seeing the possibilities. She had not consciously planned for her date with Dirk to have this effect on her parents, but perhaps it would, at that. And if it did, certainly she would not be sorry.
    When Saturday evening finally arrived, Lynn found herself dressing with as much care as she had ever shown on her most exciting date with Paul. She had selected her tan wool dress with the three-quarter length sleeves and gold belt, the dark brown suede pumps with medium high heels. It was a good outfit, simple and striking, and she hoped that Dirk, who had never seen her except in a school dress or a skirt and sweater, would be overwhelmed.
    He’s always making remarks about my being as snooty as a princess, Lynn thought, brushing her blonde hair back into a shining pony tail. Well, all right, let him see what it feels like to date a princess. I’ll be just as gracious and charming as can be, the way a real princess always is with her subjects, but I’m going to dress in good taste and look like the kind of a person I am, not like the flashy girls he’s probably used to dating.
    She finished dressing just as the doorbell rang.
    He’s here!
    And it was then that Lynn realized that,