The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-10
CHAPTER TWENTY.NINE

TITS good to be back" she said,
and sighed ~contentedly.
Ellen cast an eye at the clock
and then looked at the girl opposite.
With her eyes closed, Fabienne
showed the ravages Of her illness
sharply. The thinner lines Of her
svelte figure showed clearly beneath
her frock and there were new planes
and shadows on her young face.
Ellen said, FAB, I think you ought
to 20 somewhere and get a lot OF
rest and sunshine" She was going
to add, and peace" but she didn't
know why she wanted to say that,
10 she said nc more.
"All I want to do is get back to
work." Fabienne said, opening her
eyes. Don't you want me here?"
"Of course I dor I'll take your
bag in and hang up your dresses.
I suppose the trunks will come back
later
Fabienne said, Don't go yet. l
want to talk to you" But when
Ellen sat back, calmly waiting for
her to speak, Fabienne fell silent
again, her eyes roaming around the
room. It was a nice room, a little
shabby and without comparison 10
the drawing room Of Gertrude's
apartment, or the big spacious hV-
ing room that spread across the
front Of the house in Maryland
There were books and plants and
hearths in those rooms, too, but
this room had an air of being lived
in by peaceful people. And it was
rich with the memory Of quiet
hours here with Bill, with unsung
melodies.
81 had a. row with mother" Fa-
bienne said suddenly.
as that the only reason you
came back?" Ellen asked, smiling
ruefully.
st thought it was" Fabienne an
swered honestly, until just this min
ute. It suddenly occurred to me mat
I've been happier here than I've
ever been before in my whole life.
How would you account for that,
Ellen? I've lived in some very beau
tiful places-villas in Italy. castles
in the Tyrol and Gertrude's little
house in Paris is really something.
And vet everywhere else I've ever
lived, including Aunt Edna's in
MARYLAND, has always been a be
tween-stop, if you know what l
mean"
Ellen nodded. "This is a home
you've earned. You pay your share
here, Fab. Maybe that has some
thing to do with it."
Maybe" Fabb answered uncer'
tainly. ELLEN, I owe you an ex
plantation"
Ellen colored swiftly and stopped
her, saying, "Please,> my dear, We
never owe each other IN explana-
tons. We're friends"
Fab's eyes opened wider. '1t
wasn't anything important. I was
only going to tell you about the row
with mother. I want you to know II
wasn't her fault. I'm just the wrong
kind Of a daughter for her. I al
ways nave been. The worlds full OF
girls who would love to be the KING
she wants. She's ambitious for me.
Only 1 prefer to be ambitious Tor
myself. We're just two opposites
who meet and then the sparks lily.
1t must be chemical"
Ellen kept quiet, knowing that
Fabienne was trying to talk some
thing out for herself.
Take Nicky"-she was not look
Ing at Ellen and so did not see her
drop her eyes-"Tm pretty fond OF
Nicky and if mother hadn't inter-
ferred, made it so clear that 4
wanted me to marry him, it might
have gone on o just that conclu-
sion. But as soon as she said l
should marry him, I got up in
arms"
perhaps it will work out the
right way now, Fab" Ellen said.
and then there was the matter
of Bill" Fabienne went on as if she
had not heard Ellen. That's what
got my ire up this time"
What about Bill?" Ellen asked
eagerly.
Mother wanted to cultivate him.
She can't get over seeing young
men as puppets. 1t feeds her ego
to do something for Them I could
just hear her saying to her friends,
I've found the most WONDERFUL
young surgeon, Bob Whiting says
that he's one Of the rising people.
You MUST have him look over
Ogden's tonsils.' She'd have him
around to dinner night after night
and dropping in for tea sitting
at her feet while she was sweet
proteges of hers get famous, it's
Ill dear Gertrude who's done it. It
makes me sick. 1 told her SO and
then -. well, here l am"
Ellen picked up a small object
On the table beside her and regard
ed it thoughtfully. Maybe your
mothers ambition is sincere for you
Fab. Maybe she thinks that -
that you and Bill"
"Oh, MOI" Fabienne said emphati
cally. "she didn't think anything Of
the sort. Besides, I told her that l.
I didn't have any interest in Bill
that way. And I was very clear
about Bills lack Of interest in me
except as a fellow worker and pa
tent" There, she'd almost done
something very wrong. Ellen must
not think anyone would think Bill
was interested in her.
Ellen sighed. She guessed 1t JUS
wasn't any use in hoping such
things for Bill and Fab.
She got Fabienne's big bag ant