Evening star., 1938-06-19

if the heavy humping of Dianas heart hadn't
seemed to throb in the very air round them.
Someone gave low chuckle nearby, match
fared, and two figures - one light and one
dark - walked forward over the grass.
Bret said: Peace - like this - is very much
underrated. 1t must do anyone all sorts of good
inside somewhere"
Then Valeries family mocking voice: Its
Heaven, isn't it? Only too much Heaven makes
you sick just as fast as other things
Jake stirred beside her, and Diana put
quick hand to his arm, put her mouth close to
his ear and barely pronounced, Just for
minute - for fun - to see"
She felt Jake relax, uncertainty and she made
prayer for the best to come Of this.
Sit down." Bret's voice asked He stopped
and patted the grass. 1t S quite dry. The moon,
as you may or may not know, comes up there"
Valerie sank down and stretched out, leaning
on one elbow; and when Bret settled himself
beside her she said, 'Now - do you 20 to work
right away"
Diana's heart skipped beat, and suddenly
she wished she hadn't come here Work."
Bret said, casually enough. 'How d you mean?"
little girl can get her boy back" Valerie said
That's why we're here, isn't it?'
Bret gave pleasant chuckle and said, What
if it were?"
Wouldn't do any good" she said. I'm
crazy about the boy love to be with him,
love lots and lots of things about him. He likes
me, did you know? think it may even come
out better than that. I'm excited. In Short
darling Mr.. Latimer, my pet, want him for
my very own''
Diana thought the heat that ran into her
cheeks must glow there in the dimness
MY, my!" Bret said in admirably idle
amusement. "Do you really?"
"Yes," said Valerie with decision. Hes
young and healthy and decent and ambitious.
haven't had all that offered to me for nothing
in a hell of a while. It's swell. And can teach
him - a lot of things. can even fall into what
a writer met once kept calling love I'm fed
to the teeth with the sort of men I've been
with lately"
Shame sprang alive under Diana's skin -
as she heard these wrong, wrong answers to her
lonely hopes. She wanted to stop it, to get away
before she heard more, but she couldn't move.
You'd marry him, spose," Bret said in
pointed quiet.
"You know" Valerie said, I'D even thought
of that II if he asked me. My hat, there's
not even any taking away about it. The kid
might lose him next time he went to the movies
as far as anything she'd do about it goes.
This bilge about taking away always did gag
me. A woman who can't hang on to a man
against all-comers doesn't deserpe anybody
anybody else wants. You know that"
The childs having given him her love-"
Bret said steadily - having pinned faith on
him, told him she'd spend the rest of her chaste
life with him. planned on it, hoped for it, not
looked at other boys none of that enters
into it of course"
In an idle, academic tone Valerie said. ''Once
l believed they stuck to you for what you
were for that divine chemical something
or r-other that was built into you at the factory;
but the idea had hell kicked out of it soon
enough could hold that boy for twenty years
if l wanted - and he d love it and get a liberal
education too. I'd love it. What can she do for
him but be herself - the dear little ingenue,
all pride and no tricks, waiting for his successes
to come by themselves and telling her friends
what he said about the President last night?
1t isn't good enough. The kids got something"
"S,Ire he has" Bret said 'Or she WOuldnt'ye