The Coolidge examiner., 1937-09-16
CHAPTER VIU-Continued

to Del Monte with me this after
noon?"
"Oh. darling, not on Sundayl Mol
lie off, and Nurse with all of them
20 handle, and the Carriers coming
TO supper, They're bringing all the
children-I thought that since you
wouldn't be here il would be
grand chance for a children's sup
per"
HIM Quentin said noncommit-
tally. Victoria, made vaguely un-
easy by his tone. sent him another
questioning glance. Quentin wasn't
quite like himself on this hot still
Sunday.
The other doctors are going.
Quent? You're to have your golf
ir the morning?"
Il don't know" he said irreso-
lutely. Il thought 1 might tele-
phone Johnny. We might have. our
golf right here. You'll get over
there and see her. won't you, Vic?"
Get" She was completely at
sea. untying Susan's bib. as Susan
bvnted into her. Take your cooky
ard run. darling" she said to the
child. and don't wake Baby-she's s
out on the side porchl"
Get over and see the Morrisons. :"
Quentin completed it.
"Oh? On. yesl"
Somehow-somewhere. something
was wrong. Through the familiar
scene a chill faint wind seemed to
blow: a faint apprehension of trou-
ble-of change. Vicky couldn't an
alyze it. was only vaguely con-
scious that she felt it. but it was
there.
.TIl walk over to the Morrisons'
this afternoon for few minutes. if
you like. Quentin. she said, on an
impulse. after luncheon.
Quentin was stuffing his pipe; ,-e
did not look up. In their more than
seven years of marriage he had
never made call that Vicky could
remember. Now. sauntering forth
into the garden in search of dogs.
children. his tavorite chair under
the oaks on the long terrace, he
spoke carelessly over his shoulder.
''Oh. don't you bother" he said,
you've got enough to do! I'll wan
der over there. later. and afterward
I can give you some idea what sort
of an outfit it is.
You'd be a darling to do that!"
Victoria said. But oddly she did
not feel happy about it. and it was
from that Sunday that she dated
the change in Quentin. Not under
standing why, she nevertheless was
conscious of the fact that life some
how didn't go back, after that Sun
day. to what it had been before.
Just two weeks after the day
when Vicky and Quentin had first
met their lovely neighbor. her eyes
were suddenly opened. and after
that Victoria understood.
Quentin had said that he thought
ne would go over to the club. might
play another eighteen if it got cool
er. might watch the polo. Viclly
saw him off. had a cloud-clearing
talk with Mollie, who since her ma
rine was in port was given the rest
of the afternoon and the evening as
a special concession; helped Nurse
to the extent of opening all the little
beds. laying OFT night apparel, put
ting away vsrious books and toys
in the nursery.
Finally they were all in bed. with
books. and Victoria's head and hair
jerkcd into hundred agonizing di-
rections by warm goodnight kisses
and embraces. Five minutes past
seven, and supper due within the
hour-oh, dear. not much room for
rest in therei Her chiffon was at
the Cleaners. Perhaps that white
one Il at she had worn this morn
ing
There was wide upper hallway
in tte house. filled now with a pleas
ant half-light, like the light under
water. Victoria. closing the nurs-
cry door behind her, fingered for
a moment at its big open window,
looking out at the cooling and soft
ening day. breathing the freshened
air. resting her eyes on the green
ness of the great trees
So standing. she could look down
at the drying yard, and the berry
vines. and the fiat stretch of ne.
elected lawn where a COW grazed
and the gate in the evergreen hedge
that divided the Hardisty property
from the small but exquisitely
groomed estate of the Morrisons
next door There was small strip
of lane there. and in the lane Vic
saw a white figure, with the level
light of the setting sun shining
bright on pale gold hair and illumi
mating the white parasol as if it were
lantern lighted against the
dusky shadows of the lane
Mrs. Morrison, of course. She
was talking to someone. apparently
she had the air of person talking
But her companion was quite invisi
bic against the hedge; i, was tai