Browning chief., 1941-07-04
After Luncheon ON Fridav MS.t1%: By he;:

Of the shyness or awkwardness which
should make up the major chord Of
youth. He was always arrogant and
poised. She said:
What do you plan to do when
you're through high school. Vance?'" /"
He said: Run a grain elevator like
my dad and later bucket shop in
Chicago
"She said, I know you like to gam
BILE. But did you ever think of gam
bling with your own talents? Your
voice. your ability to act2 Why don't
you come out for the senior play?
won't enjoy directing it unless you
take the part of Richard
He said, I see enough of you in
school. After school hours I do what
please Then he put on his cap
and walked out.
II know she had forgotten all about
me. Because she put her face down
on the desk and began to cry. She
didn't put her face in her arms, but
right against the desk and I could
see the tears running along her cheeks
and melting into the dark green blot
va L "ao pNI4 1
thought of her as a goddess, beyond
tears and pain. Now / realized that
she was kid, hurt and frightened by
cruelty.
Just why he happened to come back
I don't know. He Sauntered in and
rummaged in his desk-she didn't lift
her head at all. l suppose she didn't
hear his sneakers. He looked at her
for a long time and then he went
out again. :. The next day he signed
up for the senior play. Her direction
was amazing and Vance was suddenly
able to follow along, docile and quiet.
1t was the best amateur performance
I ever saw
After he was graduated they went
together a few months. Then, to my
amazement, Vance and Georgia were
married"
Laurie rose. You mean >. Georgia
was"
"Of course, my dear"
She picked up the empty cocktail
shaker "If you'd like to mix another,
I think I'll wander back and tele-
phone to Ricky. It's strange she hasn't
come yet"
In the bedroom she sat rigidly in
front of her dressing table mirror. No,
my face doesn't tell thing, she whis-
pered to herself with stiff lips. Henry
can't guess, he doesn't Knowles
simply rambling along to please him.
self. He has no idea I wanted to hear
all this. I must go back now and
listen to the rest. . He will tell a
great deal more. If only my face will
stay fresh and unconcerned. 1t looks
very fresh now. Why did he say
Georgia was beautiful? She can't have
been. Georgia Urweider Of all names!
Intelligent and cultured. Poor
Henry must have been dreadfully dis
illusioned when she dropped her glove
so awkwardly today.
Laurie went back to the drawing
room and said gaily, "It's fascinating
story. What happened then?"
Henry went on: Vance was still able
to follow along-docile and quick.
Georgia has privately directed every
performance he has given. She has
practically written most of his plays,
although they come out under his
name. She has taught him how to
sing and how to play those slight
compositions on the piano
But why-why?"
Because some women are creative.
She blew the breath of life into a
dull lump of clay. She is still doing
it. You know that she lunches with
him every Friday afternoon. Well,
every Friday afternoon she tells him
what to do; whom to see and what
to say. She is his SOUL Without her
he would be nothing She is a flame.
She is one of the most wonderful
women in the world"
He walked over to the mantlepiece
and stood there with his back to her,
swapping his cigaret case open and
shut. Remember those women at
luncheon: How on earth do you ex-
plain it? Why did he ever marry her
in the first place?' 1t amuses me that
women all over the country wonder
what Vance sees in Georgia"
Laurie realized with shame and
fright that Henry had told her all
this deliberately. She wanted to fight
against his quiet, sure knowledge but
she was powerless. She was clad in
transparent folly.