The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-11
cHAPTER xLI

sick with pneumonia, and you'd just got him to, bed when I came dashing over to. tell you that Edgar'd been captured by the Germans and was so happy be- cause he wouldn't have to fight any more and I could send him proper food and things. We stood there hugging each other and laughing with joy, because your husband was threatened with tu- berculosis and mine was a pris- oner of war! My dear, weren't we funny!"
 And that" said Amy, twas IS years ago."
 T don't realize it until I look at the children. Nancy, a young iaoy, with suitors simply standing In line, and Howard Second as tail as his father, and my vir- elnla almost IA and pouting be- cause l won't let her carry van- grammar school next fall. They make me feel old as the hills.''
 You don't look old, Alice. You don't look much older than Vir- Sinia."
 eff I could only thin down a little! The styles are all so slimmy-not that can afford any new clothes. I'm going to sew ruffles on all my last summer dresses and wear them again. I've got to. told Edgar if he said one more word about business being bad I'd go out and buy me 3 whole new outfit, and he said, all right, it'll look swell in the poor house."
 Amy laughed. '"The faculty's about due for another cut, so 1 won't be getting anything new either. IT have to fix up some thing for the Commencement par ties, though, but I think I can find a piece of lace or chiffon over in Hopsonville and use my old blue satin for a slip. Nancy must have couple of frocks, too"
 That young English instruc- tor-what's his name = Carver is giving Nancy a big rush. isn't he? And Victor Gates, too, the one the boys all call Wee Gates. But l thought, the other night at the Berwyns' party, that Nancy fla vored the instructor"
 T don't know, Alice. They come and go too fast for me to keep their ratings straight. Yes terday Nancy was asking Howard for his volume of Keats. That looks like Richard Carver Then Victor telephoned and he's com steps tonight when the Cubans are on the radio. So there you are"
 And the French professor last
 Poor Blanchard-he did have it bad! 1 was glad that he didn't come back this year"
 'Nancy's just like you, Amy. Edgar always says you had all the bcaux in Marburg when you were girl. She must have inherited it."
 Amy looked at her visitor "Nancy's not my own daughter"
 II always forget it! She seems like your own. Veil, her mother must have been a heart too."
 With a flash of memory Amy recalled that none of the Marbufg young men had ever liked Jane. They didn't go to see her nor take her about But she could not tell that, to Alice for Alice did not know whose child Nancy was The secret had been well kept.
  and Amy had said that all she couiS tell her was that her real mother was a beautiful and clever woman, whose circumstances wouldn't permit her to keep her child. Amy had wondered since if Nancy thought about it, or brooded over it privately. but she could never see sign of 1t. There was nothing breeding or morbid . about the spirited. active Nancy.
 For a moment Amy wished that she had. not brought up the sub , ject with Alice. She was very fond Of Alice and their neighborly intimacy had always gone on without any hitches or breaks. hurt feelings or slight misunder- standings, but Alice's nose for news was sometimes bit too sharp. Amy awaited her next re- mark with special attention, but it was not needed. Alice had skit- tered on to another subject. |
 "Everybody expects Howard will be the new dean," she said, "when the trustees meet. Do you be pretty much of a chore for | you?"
 II shan't count my chores be- fore I know I've got to do them. Nothing's settled-so l can't say anything"
 ''Well, I know, but with all YOU do anyway-choral class and glee club coaching and the wo- mems choir and the concert series and private pupils, and there's such a lot of required entertain ing in the deans house. Of course Howard would be perfectly splen- homes it. Me. I'd like to see him pres'- dent of the college - l just thought it would be quite load. for you. I've always noticed that it's the faculty women who get the mean part of big job-Ive said to Edgar hundreds of times that I'm glad he's a coal dealer. But now, with business so bad, well. the college professors do get fixed salaries"
 "I wish they were little more fixed. They've been sliding back ward for two years now. But needn't complain: We do very well even if W don't sw4gger Tn sables and ioll in limousines, as Nancy says" She glanced at the clock. "You come along out in the kitchen with me while mix up some quick gingerbread" she said. 'I have to go to the glee club rehearsal and I'll just have time to bake it."
 "Td better get along home and make some myself. Do you use the soda and sour cream recipe?"
 'I haven't any sour cream to- EAPPER FANNY SAYS: