The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-09-17
CHAPTER XI-Continued
-I7-


call right, Serena" she said half
aloud, apostrophizing the dim light
that shone in the window she knew
to be Serena's window. "All right
wait for him to telephone. He will.
He said five minutes ago that he'd
empty the ashtrays and lock the
doors, and that always means he's
going to telephone you. Let him
tell you he's had talk with Vicky,
and she was surprisingly sensible
and say, 'Ah, lover, then maybe
we can begin to play tomorrow!
"But from now on it's my will
against your admirable little-girl in
nocence, Serena. He'll never get
free of me, for I'll never consent to
it. He'll never marry you while /
live, and I'm not going to die! I'm
going to be right here, and after
while you'll give in because there's
nothing else for you to do. You be-
long to him now-and know it,
while he was telling me how strong
you were. how controlled you were!
You're his now-you've had all
you're going to have from him-the
rest is all mine I'm the wife, and
my children are the children, and
I can wait. I'll know it all, and I'll
keep still-pll be pitied, and women
will hint things to me, and I'll keep
still!
''You take your day, Serena-go
ahead! Take a year, take two years.
Flatter him, and meet him for
lunch, and take his presents, and
hate me. Hate me because I won't
give you your way. But in the end
I'll win!"
Victoria and Violet Keats sat on
the Hardisty lawn on hot spring
afternoon and discussed, with limi-
tations, their husbands and chill
dren, their homes, servants, and
friends, their lives generally. The
long Saturday had been spent by
Violet and her own quartette, of
youngsters with the Hardisty troop;
now it was late afternoon, and the
problem of getting Kate, Duna,
Bunty, and Babs Keats amicably
separated from Gwen, Kenty, Sue,
Dicky, Bobs, and Madeleine Har-
disty was like an uneasy under
current to the women's talk.
81 suppose you couldn't leave
them all with us, Viz"
what, all four of them!" Violet
calculated. 81 couldn't leave one.
Mothers birthday tomorrow.
"Pd forgotten that-although /
sent her flowers"
"Did you really think to send her
flowers, Vic?"
81 did, and a book"
you're charming, and she really
loves you, and always has," Violet
said, touched into a rare display of
feeling. 81 don't know why you
worry so about this baby of yours"
she added, going back to earlier
talk. "He may be just slow. Duna
was terribly slow; he didn't walk
until he was nineteen months DID,"
Vic looked down at the yearling
baby in her lap.
Martyrs not Slow" she said gen.
thy. cts more than that, vi. My
own boy!"
The last was murmured to the
child, who looked up at her with
smiling blue eyes. Small and re-
Taxed and secure, he lay in her
arms. He never fretted, he did not
seem sick, but this littlest of the
Hardistys had only been loaned to
her for a while, and his mother
knew it.
Quentin think so?" Mrs. Keats
asked abruptly. you've had an
other opinion?"
''Knows So" Victoria spoke mild
ly, but her whole body was torn
with sigh.
Violet was silent.
isn't it strange?-this little fell
low means more to Quentin than
any of the others did. He's always
loved them as soon as they got in
teresting, but only this one from
the very start!"
"All men are like that" Violet
put into the pause.
Martin he adoreS. It's strange"
Vic unused. Hell come home night
after night and sit holding him. He
used to say Marty understood him;
he doesn't say that now, he doesn't
say anything"
81 feel so badly for Quentin"
Vicky presently continued.
For Quentin" Mrs. Keats tone
was sharp and quick. She appar-
emily reconsidered what else she
might have added, and when she
spoke again her tone was milder.
ST feel sorry for you, my DEAR"
she said. II think you're a re-
markable woman, Vicky."
ooh, thank you'll" Vicky answered
gratefully, with little flush.
"And so does everyone else," Vio-
let persisted. 'And sometimes
there is someone I'd like to talk
to!" she added, significantly.
Vic's eyes laughed, but there was
a CLINT of warning in them, too.
Because I adore Quentin-we
both do" Violet proceeded further.