fore　it　closed　at　6　p。m。—potato　chips　and　candy　mostly—but　the　whole　table　didn’t　need　to　know　about　it。

“Well；　enjoy。　I’m　telling　you；　kids；　it’s　great　for　us　that　you’re　here。”　Harold　held　up　his　glass　of　champagne　as　he　slid　into　the　chair　at　the　head　of　the　table。　“To　youth；”　he　announced　solemnly。

“And　wisdom！”　Chuck　cried；　clinking　his　own　glass　with　Harold’s。

“I’ve　always　liked　you。”　Harold　winked　showily　at　Blair。

Nate　stiffened　as　he　cut　into　his　lamb。　Chuck　had　e…mailed　him　this　year　to　tell　him　that　he　and　Blair　were　dating；　but　it　was　one　thing　to　know　they　were　together　and　another　to　see　it。　He　stared　down　at　his　plate。　The　olives　looked　like　little　beady　eyes；　challenging　him。　Just　then；　he　felt　something　touch　his　foot。　Jenny　was　smiling　at　him　mischievously。　Footsies？　Really？　That　was　kind　of…　hot。　Nate　smiled　back　at　her。

“I　saw　you　girls　making　peanut…butter…and…jelly　pies　this　morning；”　Harold　said；　waving　his　flute　at　Blair　and　Serena。　“I　wish　you’d　stuck　to　doing　that；　instead　of　raiding　our　liquor　cabinet　when　you　were　teenagers。”　He　shook　his　head　in　bemusement。

“Daddy；　we　never　did　that；”　Blair　lied；　taking　a　large　swig　of　champagne。

“Ha！”　Harold　laughed。　“I　wasn’t　as　out　of　touch　as　you　may　have　thought。”

Yes；　he　was。

“Well；　you　girls　had　to　learn　how　to　socialize　somehow。　And　it　all　turned　out　for　the　best。　You　hosted　your　first　benefit　when　you　were　only　sixteen；”　Harold　recalled　with　pride。

“Oh　my　God；　the　Kiss　on　the　Lips　party；”　Blair　remembered。　They’d　organized　a　party　to　benefit　the　Central　Park　falcons　or　pigeons　or　sparrows　or　whatever　those　endangered　birds　were。　After　too　much　champagne；　she’d　nearly　thrown　up　on　one　of　the　foundation　representatives。　Nate　had　res