The Coolidge examiner., 1937-09-30
CHAPTER X-Continued
p

~ toward lnG Ouhy VI LiAG AllAAldlG,
toward the wrapping and tying of
presents, the heaping of bundles,
the fastening of trimmings on the
tree that stood in lone cold state in
the downstairs drawing room.
It was cold in the drawing room;
Victoria worked in a sweater; left
half the trimming undone. There
was no heart in it today. Christ
mas had always been a wildly fest
i've time In the Hardisty family
even the dreadful first Christmas
when Quentin and Vicky and Gwen
had all been ILL., 1T would be no
such holiday tomorrow. 1t would
never seem Christmas again.
"Oh, my God!" Vicky said, stand
ing still in the middle of the room,
putting her hands that were sore
from wires and string and tinsel,
that were cold and dirty. tightly
over her eyes. My God, what shall
7 dol"
Well, and what had to be done
now? With the rest of the trees
trimming Nurse must help; it was
too much to do alone in this cold
room. Victoria went out to the
kitchen and asked Claus. the old
German gardener, who was brewing
himself some coffee on the laundry
stove, to look at the drawing-room
radiators. Company tomorrow.
Then upstairs again to find beds
made, and the children dressed and
circulating about with their usual
uproarious activity. Bricks, cray
ons, railway trains, and blackboards
were all in evidence. The question
of stockings arose; when were they
going to hang the stockings?
The holes of the nails we had
last year are all herei" Susan said
excitedly, in interested investigation
at the hearth.
Mother" the gentle twin said,
at her knee, IF we hanged them
now might they be filed by sup
PERI"
''Oh, no, darling. because Christ
mas isn't until tomorrow"
The nursery door opened; Gita
shyly insinuated herself into the
room, closed the door again.
''Amah's sick, and Nina said /
could come over" she said.
Victoria's face paled. but there
was no one to see.
Come in, Gita. Better close it,
dear, because Madeleine's getting all
ready fo- her bath-aren't you, my
sweetheart" She rubbed her face
gently against Madeleine's little fluff
fly head and felt the tears, hot and
hurtful, in her eyes again and the
agony of despair in her heart.
At noon Quentin telephoned.
That you. Vicky? Vic, will you
look in the pocket of my coat-the
gray coat-and see if there's lit
tie black book there? I'll send down
for it if you find it"
Just a minute, Quentin" 1t was
the doctors wife talking; it was no
longer only Victoria Hardisty. In
a moment she was back. "Its here.
Want Claus to bring it in?"
well, but won't that mean that
you've no carr"
Il dent need it. I'm not going
out. I was downtown this morn
ing"
Everything all right"
A pause. Then Vicky said heavi-
":
Il guess So"
well, don't get too tired. III be
home early"
Vicky put down the telephone,
stood up, and somehow moved
blindly toward her bed. In another
moment she was flung upon it, in a
passion of tears. To have to end
all this-to have to end the happy
years when she had felt so sure
that she and the children were
enough-to have next Christmas day
dawn on nursery to which Daddy
was a stranger E.
whats the matter, Vicky?"
Magda asked, late in the afternoon,
when Vicky, from sheer inability to
do anything more was lying idle
on the couch near the fire in the
upstairs sitting room.
Natter" Vicky responded
brightly. TOO much Christmas!"
Yes, but it isn't that" she said,
after a pause. You were crying
this morning. What's the matter?"
vicky turned raised eyebrows to-
ward her in innocent surprise;
broke. and looked at the fire, biting
her lip.
What is it," persisted Magda.
Its nothing-really."
A silence. The older woman
shrugged.
.An right" Magda said then.
Its nothing"
Its only" Vicky began deliber-
ately. in a thick voice that cleared
as she went on-''it's only that I
think Quentin and l are going to be
divorced"
Their eyes met fully; both wom-
en- looked back at the fire.
Feel that way about it," Magda