Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-03-18
NAN MADEMTOWN
I4Bl6(l 64RuBYM N. MRtS I<=IE4

81 hope you We been entertaining Di-
ana properly" she said.
"And may I have a drink? Some
thing long, with plenty of ice"
Dennis turned to the side table and
began mixing a drink with hands that
were not quite steady.
II wish you'd let me know you were
coming" he said. ''I'd have met you
at Victoria"
Linda laughed. Elbow sweet of you!
But l was quite all right. Tony Jevons
came over on the same boat, and he
looked after me. Have you a cigar
ette?"
She flung her hat carelessly down
on the couch, smoothing her glossy
hair carefully.
"Are you two going On somewhere"
she asked. Because if you are, don't
mind me. l shall have heaps to do
there's a pile of letters waiting for me
in the hail."
Dennis gave her a cigarette and lit
it for her.
"As a matter of fact, we were go
ing on. to join some people at the Sa-
voy," he said, carefully avoiding her
eyes. 'But as you are here
"As l am here you are quite pre-
pared to do the polite thing and stay
at home, is that it? My dear boy,
don't be absurd. l should hate to dis
appoint Diana, too, though l must say
she looks more as if she ought to be
in bed than sitting up till the early
hours.
Diana reused herself with an effort,
the hot colour rushing to her face
"I'm quite we'll. A little tired, per-
haps, but it seems a shame to leave
you directly you come home"
Linda finished her drink and set
the glass down on the table. Ought
not you two to be going-or isn't ten
o'clock late to join a party?"
Diana stood up.
81 really don't care a bit about the
Dance" she said. "Let us call it off,
Dennis, shall WEI"
But Linda would not hear of such
a thing.
"Of course you must go. | insist.
You make me feel sorry I came home.
Dennis, insist that she goes"
Dennis shrugged his shoulders.
"It's for you to say, my dear. You
know if you van me to stay
"But l don't want you to stay. Dl-
ana, go to my room and put some col
our in your cheeks, you look like a
ghost. l just want to talk to Dennis
for a moment"
Diana hesitated. She was hating this
woman for her friendliness and self
control, envying her glowing health;
hating her unreasonably, no doubt,
and yet she had hardly known how to
bear herself since the m Dennis
went forward to kiss his wife.
II really don't care if we go or not,
she said with an effort. cit will be
frightfully hot in the Savoy, any
way"
Run away" Linda said. She Shoe
ed her playfully o the door, closing
it after her. Then she turned to her
husband.
whats the matter with hat
child?" she asked.
1.-The matter?" Dennis raised his
brows. "What do you mean? She does
mt look as fit as you do, certainly,
but then she goes the pace too much.
You can't keep her still; she's a mass
of nerves."
"And is that your fault?" his wife
asked quietly.
my fault? My dear Linda-what
on earth do you mean?"
Don't let's pretend, Dennis. You
know quite we'll what l mean. You'v We
been making love to her for months,
Pm not blaming you any than
l am her-any woman is a fool who
lets a married man make love to her;
but Pm sorry for her because she's not
so experienced as you are. It's not play
ing fair. l suppose she wants you tc
marry her, is that it,"
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK