Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-07-22
CHAPTER 13

one. they'd lett her 1atnerS mouse
in a shower of rice and Fluctuations
for their honeymoon four years ago
She hadn't loved him even then, bu
she had liked him. This was a dis
NAL end to that gay beginning. Bu
she could not say that.
Eustace got out of the roadster, open
ed the door beside her, and helped
her out into the sunny quiet street
His face was more expressionless thar
that accident had made hers. He
would not thank her for saying any
thing that might break him!
He said: 81 sha'n't go to the boat
Felicia. Therell be reporters-anc
too many people generally"
GAS you wish, Eustace."
"Have a nice summer, and give my
best to Denise and Gilbert"
"a house on the Sussex downs
sounds dull as possible, but I'll get
a good rest and feel more like my
self"
"That's the idea"
Eustace-I'm-I'm sorry"
He ignored that as if she had not
said it. eff you want me, Felicia,
send for me. l can still manage pas
sage money" His tone was one of
mentioning the weather.
eyes, Eustace."
"Good-by, them"
He got into his roadster, which was
just beginning to get shabby; and
when he'd have money for another, or
how long he would have money for
gasoline, she wondered! AS she Won
dered, he put the car into gear and
moved down the street. She thought
that when he turned at the corner, he
turned his head and waved to her.
But he passed so quickly out of sight
that she was not sure.
And next morning there was let
ter from Keith, sent by messenger to
her fathers house. Fortunately, both
her father and mother were out When
it came. She locked herself into her
bedroom to read it.
Felicia:
The long delay in writing you has
been. as l suppose you guessed II you
happened to see the newspapers, that
my right arm was broken and l
couldn't use the hand. What / have
to say to you was not the sort OF
thing that could be dictated. l should
have telephoned, but thought it would
embarrass you, Eustace and whoever
else might happen to be present.
Father has had me surrounded with
nurses, masseurs, and so on constant
ly. hear that you are fairly COM
pletely recovered. Persuaded Faith
er to find out.) That's good, dar-
ling. Myself shall limp, they say, but
only slightly.
Do write me now, and tell me what
YOU want me to do. Be assured that
whatever you want, will make me hap
nv. I can't of course estimate the
situation at your end. 1t may be that
you've changed your mind about me.
l hope not!
Forgive the total inadequancy OF
this. 1t takes me so long to manage
a few lines because of the stiffness
of my hand, which will improve daily,
they tell me, from now on.
Do write quickly as you can.
AS ever
Rut there seemed to be more than
difficulty in managing a pen IN the
unaccountable coolness of that letter.
Her pride dictated her answer,
very brief answer to the effect that
she was sailing as her parents Wished
and if he wanted to join her, she
would be glad to see him.
His response arrived in the morn
ing of her sailing: =
Felicia:
Don't write as if you thought l did
not care what became of you. You
know do. But it hasn't seemed to
me that 1 could telephone you at your
fathers house, or your husbands, IN
decency. 1 haven't been able to get
out-though 1 shall next week.
Please don't go to England. 1t
must be as. obvious to you as to me
that / can't visit you at Denise's
house, either. If you will marry me,
why not go straight to Reno? And
(as I can't help knowing, because
Eustace's people have gone on so), II
you're hard up, let me pay the ex-
penses.
Like the darling you are, (only not