recalledhowIhadout-manoeuvredhimandgonetocollege;IrememberedtheMarchdaysolongago,whenTomandIhadstoodonthecornerdebatinghowtodeceivehim,anditwasIwhohadsuggestedthenicedistinctionbetweenaboatandaraft.Well,myfather\'sillogicalattitudetowardsboyhoodnature,towardshumannature,hadforcedmeintothatlie,justasthesenselessattitudeofthepublicto-dayforcedbusinessintoapositionofhypocrisy.
\"Well,that\'sclever,\"hesaid,slowlyandperplexedly,whenIhadfinished.\"It\'sdamnedclever,butsomehowitlookstomeallwrong.I
can\'tpickittopieces.\"Hegotupratherheavily.\"I——IguessIoughttobegoing.Susandoesn\'tknowwhereIam.\"
Iwasexasperated.Itwasclear,thoughhedidnotsayso,thathethoughtmedishonest.Thepaininhiseyeshaddeepened.
\"Ifyoufeelthatway——\"Isaid.
\"Oh,God,Idon\'tknowhowIfeel!\"hecried.\"You\'retheoldestfriendIhave,Hugh,——Ican\'tforgetthat.We\'llsaynothingmoreaboutit.\"
HepickeduphishatandamomentlaterIheardthefrontdoorclosebehindhim.Istoodforawhilestock-still,andthenwentintothelivingroom,whereMaudewassewing.
\"Why,where\'sTom?\"sheinquired,lookingup.
\"Oh,hewenthome.HesaidSusandidn\'tknowwherehewas.\"
\"Howqueer!Hugh,wasthereanythingthematter?Isheintrouble?\"sheaskedanxiously.
Istoodtoyingwithabook-mark,reflecting.Shemustinevitablycometosuspectthatsomethinghadhappened,anditwouldbeaswelltofortifyher.
\"Thetroubleis,\"Isaidafteramoment,\"thatPerryandTomwouldliketorunmodernbusinessontheprincipleofacharitableinstitution.
Unfortunately,itisnotpractical.They\'reupsetbecauseIhavebeenretainedbyasyndicatewhoseobjectistodevelopsomelandoutbeyondMaplewoodAvenue.They\'veboughttheland,andweareaskingthecitytogiveusarighttobuildalineoutMaplewoodAvenue,whichistheobviouswaytogo.Perrysaysitwillspoiltheavenue.That\'snonsense,inthefirstplace.Theavenueiswide,andthetrackswillbeinagrassplotinthecentre.Forthesakeofkeepingtracksoffthatavenuehewoulddeprivepeopleofattractivehomesatasmallcost,ofthegoodairtheycangetbeyondtheheights;hewouldstuntthecity\'sdevelopment.\"
\"Thatdoesseemalittleunreasonable,\"Maudeadmitted.\"Isthatallheobjectsto?\"
\"No,hethinksitanoutragebecause,inordertogetthefranchise,wehavetodealwiththecitypoliticians.Well,itsohappens,andalwayshashappened,thatpoliticshavebeencontrolledbyleaders,whomPerrycalls`bosses,\'andtheyarenotparticularlyattractivemen.Youwouldn\'tcaretoassociatewiththem.Myfatheroncerefusedtobemayorofthecityforthisreason.Buttheyarenecessities.Ifthepeopledidn\'twantthem,they\'dtakeenoughinterestinelectionstothrowthemout.Butsincethepeopledowantthem,andtheyarethere,everytimeanewstreet-carlineorsomethingofthatsortneedstobebuilttheyhavetobeconsulted,because,withouttheirinfluencenothingcouldbedone.
Ontheotherhand,thesepoliticianscannotaffordtoignoremenoflocalimportancelikeLeonardDickinsonandAdolfSchererandMillerGorsewhorepresentfinancialsubstanceand\'responsibility.Ifanewstreet-
railroadistobebuilt,thesearethelogicalonestobuildit.YouhavejustthesamesituationinElkington,onasmallerscale.
Yourfamily,theHutchinses,ownthemillsandthestreet-railroads,andanynewenterprisethatpresentsitselfisdonewiththeirmoney,becausetheyarereliableandsound.\"
\"Itisn\'tpleasanttothinkthattherearesuchpeopleasthepoliticians,isit?\"saidMaude,slowly.
\"Unquestionablynot,\"Iagreed.\"Itisn\'tpleasanttothinkofsomeothercrudeforcesintheworld.Buttheyexist,andtheyhavetobedealtwith.SupposetheUnitedStatesshouldrefusetotradewithRussiabecause,fromourrepublicanpointofview,weregardedhergovernmentastyrannicalandoppressive?ortocooperatewithEnglandinsomeundertakingfortheworld\'sbenefitbecausewecontendedthatsheruledIndiawithanironhand?Insuchacase,ourPresidentandSenatewouldbescoundrelsformakingandratifyingatreaty.YetherearePerryandTom,andnodoubtSusanandLucia,accusingme,alifetimefriend,ofdishonestybecauseIhappentobecounselforasyndicatethatwishestobuildastreet-railroadfortheconvenienceofthepeopleofthecity.\"
\"Oh,no,notofdishonesty!\"sheexclaimed.\"Ican\'t——Iwon\'tbelievetheywoulddothat.\"
\"Prettynearit,\"Isaid.\"IfIlistenedtothem,Ishouldhavetogiveupthelawaltogether.\"
\"Sometimes,\"sheansweredinalowvoice,\"sometimesIwishyouwould.\"
\"Imighthaveexpectedthatyouwouldtaketheirpointofview.\"
AsIwasturningawayshegotupquicklyandputherhandonmyshoulder.
\"Hugh,pleasedon\'tsaysuchthings——you\'venorighttosaythem.\"
\"Andyou?\"Iasked.
\"Don\'tyousee,\"shecontinuedpleadingly,\"don\'tyouseethatwearegrowingapart?That\'stheonlyreasonIsaidwhatIdid.Itisn\'tthatIdon\'ttrustyou,thatIdon\'twantyoutohaveyourwork,thatIdemandallofyou.Iknowawomancan\'taskthat,——can\'thaveit.Butifyouwouldonlygiveme——givethechildrenjustalittle,ifIcouldfeelthatwemeantsomethingtoyouandthatthisotherwasn\'tgraduallybecomingeverything,wasn\'tabsorbingyoumoreandmore,killingthebestpartofyou.It\'spoisoningourmarriage,it\'spoisoningallyourrelationships.\"
InthatappealtherealMaude,theMaudeoftheearlydaysofourmarriageflashedforthagainsovividlythatIwastakenaback.I
understoodthatshehadhadherselfundercontrol,hadwornamask——amaskIhadforcedonher;andtherevelationofthecontinuedexistenceofthatotherMaudewasprofoundlydisturbing.Wasittrue,asshesaid,thatmyabsorptioninthegreatgameofmodernbusiness,inthemodernAmericanphilosophyitimpliedwaspoisoningmymarriage?orwasitthatmymarriagehadfailedtosatisfyandabsorbme?Iwastouched——butsentimentallytouched:Ifeltthatthiswasasituationthatoughttotouchme;Ididn\'twishtofaceit,asusual:Icouldn\'tacknowledgetomyselfthatanythingwasreallywrongIpattedherontheshoulder,I
bentoverandkissedher.
\"Amaninmypositioncan\'taltogetherchoosejusthowbusyhewillbe,\"
Isaidsmiling.\"MattersarethrustuponmewhichIhavetoaccept,andIcan\'thelpthinkingaboutsomeofthemwhenIcomehome.Butwe\'llgooffforarealvacationsoon,Maude,toEurope——andtakethechildren.\"
\"Oh,Ihopeso,\"shesaid.
Fromthistimeon,asmaybesupposed,ourintercoursewithboththeBlackwoodsbegantogrowlessfrequent,althoughMaudecontinuedtoseeagreatdealofLucia;andwhenwediddineintheircompany,ortheywithus,itwasquitenoticeablethattheirformerraillerywassuppressed.
EvenTomhadceasedtorefertomeastheyoungNapoleonoftheLaw:heclungtome,buthetookeptsilentonthesubjectofbusiness.Maudeofcoursemusthavenoticedthis,musthavesensedthechangeofatmosphere,haveknownthattheBlackwoods,atleast,weremaintainingappearancesforhersake.Shedidnotspeaktomeofthechange,norItoher;butwhenIthoughtofhersilence,itwastosuspectthatshewasweighingthequestionwhichhadleduptothedifferencebetweenPerryandme,andIhadasuspicionthatthefactthatIwasherhusbandwouldnotaffectherultimatedecision.Thisfacultyofhersofthinkingthingsoutinsteadofacceptingmyviewsanddecisionswas,asthesayinggoes,gettingalittle\"onmynerves\":thatsheofallwomenshouldhavedevelopeditwasarecurringandunpleasantsurprise.Ibeganattimestopitymyselfalittle,tofeeltheneedofsympatheticcompanionship——
femininecompanionship
IshallnotgointothedetailsoftheprocurementofwhatbecameknownastheRiversideFranchise.InspiteoftheMaplewoodresidents,oftheCityImprovementLeagueandindividualprotests,weobtaineditwithabsurdease.IndeedPerryBlackwoodhimselfappearedbeforethePublicUtilitiesCommitteeoftheBoard.ofAldermen,analvaslistenedtowithdeferenceandgravitywhilehediscoursedonthedefacementofabeautifulboulevardtosatisfythegreedofcertainprivateindividuals.
Mr.OttoBitterandmyself,whoappearedforthepetitioners,hadasimilarreception.Thatstrugglewasatempestinatea-pot.Thereformerraged,buthewasfeebleinthosedays,andthegreatpublicbelievedwhatitreadintherespectablenewspapers.InMr.JudahB.
Tallant\'snewspaper,forinstance,theMorningEra,thereweresemi-
playfuleditorialsabout\"obstructionists.\"Mr.PerryBlackwoodwasawell-meaning,ablegentlemanofanoldfamily,etc.,butwithasentimentforhorse-cars.TheErapublishedalsotheresolutionswhich(withinterestingspontaneity!)hadbeenpassedbyourBoardofTradeandChamberofCommerceandotherinfluentialbodiesinfavourofthefranchise;theidea——unknowntothepublic——ofMr.HughParet,whowrotedraftsoftheresolutionsandsuggestedprivatelytoMr.LeonardDickinsonthatalittleenthusiasmfromtheseorganizationsmightbehelpful.Mr.Dickinsonacceptedthesuggestioneagerly,wonderingwhyhehadn\'tthoughtofithimself.Theresolutionscarriedsomeweightwithapublicthatdidnotknowitsrighthandfromitsleft.
Afterfittingdeliberation,oneeveninginFebruarytheBoardofAldermenmetandgrantedthefranchise.Notunanimously,oh,no!Mr.Jasonwasnotsosimpleasthat!NofurthervisitstoMonahan\'ssaloononmypart,inthisconnectionwerenecessary;butMr.OttoBittermetmeonedayinthehotelwithasignificantmessagefromtheboss.
\"It\'sallfixed,\"heinformedme.\"MurphyandScottandOttheimerandGradyandLotharethedecoys.Youunderstand?\"
\"IthinkIgatheryourmeaning,\"Isaid.
Mr.Bittersmiledbypullingdownonecornerofacrookedmouth.
\"They\'llvoteagainstitonprinciple,youknow,\"headded.\"WegetalittlesomethingfromtheMapleAvenueresidents.\"
I\'veforgottenwhattheRiversideFranchisecost.ThesumwaspaidinalumpsumtoMr.Bitterashis\"fee,\"——so,totheirchagrin,agrandjurydiscoveredinlateryears,whentheywerebarkingaroundMr.Jason\'sholewithaneagerdistrictattorneysnappinghiswhipoverthem.Irememberthecartoon.Themunicipalgeeseweregone,butitwasimpossibletoprovethatthisparticularfoxhadusedhisenlightenedreasonintheirprocurement.Mr.Bitterwasalegallyauthorizedfox,andcouldtakefees.HowMr.Jasonwastoberewardedbythelandcompany\'sleft-hand,unknown,tothelandcompany\'srighthand,becameaproblemworthyofagenius.Thegeniuswasfound,butmodestyforbidsmetomentionhisname,andtheproblemwassolved,towit:thelandcompanyboughtapieceofdowntownpropertyfrom——Mr.Ryerson,whowasMr.Grierson\'srealestatemanandtheagentforthelandcompany,foraconsiderationofthirtythousanddollars.AnunconfirmedrumourhaditthatMr.RyersonturnedoverthethirtythousandtoMr.Jason.ThentheRiversideCompanyissuedasecretdeedofthesamepropertybacktoMr.Ryerson,andthisdeedwasnotrecordeduntilsomeyearslater.
Sucharetheelaboratetransactionsprogressandprosperitydemand.
Natureisthegreatteacher,andweknowthatherwaysareattimescomplicatedandclumsy.Likewise,underthe\"natural\"lawsofeconomics,newenterprisesarenotbornwithouttravail,withouttheaidoflegalphysicianswellversedinfinancialobstetrics.Onehundredandfiftytotwohundredthousand,letussay,fortherighttobuildtracksonMaplewoodAvenue,andwesoldnearlytwomilliondollarsworthofthesecuritiesbacktothepublicwhosealdermenhadsoldusthefranchise.
Isthereamansodeadasnottofeelathrillatthisachievement?AndletnoonewhodeclaresthatliterarytalentandimaginationarenonexistentinAmericapronouncefinaljudgmentuntilhereadsthatprospectus,inwhichwascombinedthebestofrealismandsymbolism,forthelaboursofAlonzoCheynewerenottobewasted,afterall.Mr.
Dickinson,whowasadirectorintheMaplewoodline,gotahandsomeunderwritingpercentage,andMr.Berringer,alsoadirector,onthebondsandpreferredstockhesold.Mr.Paret,whoenteredbothcompaniesonthegroundfloor,likewisegotfees.Everybodywassatisfiedexceptthetroublemakers,whowereignored.Inshort,theepisodeoftheRiversideFranchiseisatriumphantproofofthecontentionthatbusinessmenarethebestfittedtoconductthepoliticsoftheircountry.
Wehadlearnedtopursueourhappinessinpacks,weknewthattheHappyHunting-Groundsarehereandnow,whiletheReverendCareyHeddoncontinuedtoassurethemaimed,thehaltandtheblindthattheirkingdomwasnotofthisworld,thattheirtimewascominglater.Couldtherehavebeenamoreidylarrangement!Everybodyshouldhavebeensatisfied,buteverybodywasnot.Otherwisethesepageswouldneverhavebeenwritten.
AFARCOUNTRY
ByWinstonChurchillBOOK3.
XVIII.
Asthenameofourcitygrewtobemoreandmoreabywordforsuddenandfabulouswealth,notonlyweretheHunsandtheSlavs,theCzechsandtheGreeksdrawntous,butitbecamethefashionfordistinguishedEnglishmenandFrenchmenandsometimesGermansandItalianstopayusavisitwhentheymadethegrandtourofAmerica.Theyhadbeentoldthattheymustnotmissus;scarcelyaweekwentbyinourcommunity——soitwassaid——inwhichafull-fledgedmillionairewasnotturnedout.Ourvisitorsdidnotalwaysremainaweek,——sincetheirrapidjourneyingsfromtheAtlantictothePacific,fromCanadatotheGulfrarelyoccupiedmorethanfour,——butinthebooksembodyingtheirmaturecommentsonthemanners,customsandcruditiesofAmericancivilizationnolessthanachapterwasusuallydevotedtous;andmostoftheadjectivesintheirvariouslanguageswereexhaustedintheattempttoprovehowsymptomaticwewereoftheambitionsandidealsoftheRepublic.Thefactthatmanyofthesegentlemen——literaryandotherwise——returnedtotheirownshoresbetterfedandwithlargerbalancesinthebanksthanwhentheydepartedisneitherherenorthere.Egyptiansareproverbiallycreatedtobespoiled.
ThewiserandmorefortunateofthesetravellersandstudentsoflifebroughtletterstoMr.andMrs.HambletonDurrett.Thathouseholdwassymptomatic——iftheyliked——oftheneworderofthings;anditwasrareindeedwhenbothmembersofitwereathometoentertainthem.IfMr.
Durrettwereinthecity,andtheydidnothappentobeBritonswithsportingproclivities,theysimplywerenotentertained:whenMrs.
DurrettreceivedthemdinnersweregivenintheirhonourontheDurrettgoldplate,andtheyspentcoseyanddelightfulhoursconversingwithherinthelittlesalonoverlookingthegarden,toreturntotheirhotelsandjotdownparagraphsonthesuperiorityoftheAmericanwomenoverthemen.TheseparticularforeignersdidnotlayeyesonMr.Durrett,whowasinFloridaorintheEastplayingpoloorengagedinsomeotherpursuit.Oneresultofthelavishnessandluxurythatamazedthemtheywrote——hadbeentoraisethestandardofcultureofthewomen,whowereourleisureclass.Butthetravellersdidnotremainlongenoughtoarriveatanyconclusionsofvalueontheeffectofluxuryandlavishnessonthesacredinstitutionofmarriage.
IfMr.NathanielDurrettcouldhavereturnedtohisnativecityafterfifteenyearsorsointhegrave,nottheleastofthephenomenatostartlehimwouldhavebeenthatwhichwastakingplaceinhisownhouse.
ForhewouldhavebeheldserenelyestablishedinthatformerabodeofCalvinismoneofthemostreprehensibleofexoticabominations,a\'mariagedeconvenance;\'norcouldhehavefailedtoobserve,moreover,thecomplacencywithwhichthedescendantsofhisfriends,thepewholdersinDr.Pound\'schurch,regardedthematter:andnotonlythese,butthecityatlarge.ThestrongholdofScotchPresbyterianismhadbecomeaLondonoraParis,aGomorrah!
Mrs.HambletonDurrettwentherway,andMr.Durretthis.ThelesssaidaboutMr.Durrett\'sway——eveninthissuddenlyadvancedage——thebetter.
AsforNancy,sheseemedtothedistanteyetobewalkingthroughlifeinastatelyandtriumphantmanner.Ireadinthenewspapersofherdoings,hercomingsandgoings;sometimesshewasawayformonthstogether,oftenabroad;andwhenshewasathomeIsawher,butinfrequently,underconditionsmoreorlessformal.Notthatshewasformal,——orI:ourintercourseseemedeloquentofanintimacyinatantalizingstateofsuspense.Wouldthatintimacyeverberenewed?ThuswasaquestiononwhichIsometimesspeculated.Thesituationthathadsuspendedorputanendtoit,asthecasemightbe,wasneverreferredtobyeitherofus.
OneafternooninthelatewinteroftheyearfollowingthatinwhichwehadgivenadinnertotheScherers(wheretheDurrettshadrathermarvellouslyappearedtogether)Ileftmyofficeaboutthreeo\'clock——amostunusualoccurrence.Iwasrestless,unabletofixmymindonmywork,filledwithunsatisfiedyearningstheobjectofwhichIsoughttokeepvague,andyetIdirectedmystepswestwardalongBoyneStreetuntilIcametotheArtMuseum,wherealoanexhibitionwasbeingheld.I
entered,boughtacatalogue,andpresentlyfoundmyselfstandingbeforenumber103,designatedasaportraitofMrs.HambletonDurrett,——paintedinParistheautumnbeforebyaPolishartistthenmuchinvogue,StanislausCzesky.Nancy——wasitNancy?——wasstandingfacingme,tall,superbinthematurityofherbeauty,withonehandrestingonanantiquetable,asmileuponherlips,agentlemockeryinhereyesasthoughlaughingattheworldsheadorned.Withthesmileandthemockery——
somehowsignificant,too,ofanachievedinaccessibility——wentthesheenofherclinginggownandtheglintoftheheavypearlsdroopingfromherhighthroattoherwaist.Thesecaughttheeye,butfailedatlengthtoholdit,forevenasIlookedthesmilefaded,themockeryturnedtowistfulness.SoIthought,andlookedagain——toseethewistfulness:thesmilehadgone,thepearlsseemedheavier.Wasitatrickoftheartist?
hadheseenwhatIsaw,orthoughtIsaw?orwasitthatimaginationwhichbynowImighthavelearnedtosuspectanddistrust.Wildlongingstookpossessionofme,fortheportraithadseemedtoemphasizeatoncehowdistantnowshewasfromme,andyethownear!Iwantedtoputthatnearnesstothetest.Hadshereallychanged?didanyonereallychange?
andhadInotbeenafooltoacceptthepresentmentshehadgivenme?I
rememberedthosemomentswhenourglanceshadmetasacrossbarriersinflashesofunderstanding.Afterall,thebarriersweremererelicsofthesuperstitionofthepast.WhatifIwenttohernow?IfeltthatIneededherasIneverhadneededanyoneinallmylifeIwasarousedbythesoundofloweredvoicesbesideme.
\"That\'sMrs.HambletonDurrett,\"Iheardawomansay.\"Isn\'tshebeautiful?\"
Thenoteofenvystruckmesharply——horribly.WithoutwaitingtolistentothecommentofhercompanionIhurriedoutofthebuildingintothecold,whitesunlightthatthrewintoboldreliefthemediocrehousesofthestreet.Herewaseverydaylife,buttheportraithadsuggestedthatwhichmighthavebeen——mightbeyet.WhatdidImeanbythis?Ididn\'tknow,Ididn\'tcaretodefineit,——arenewalofherfriendship,ofourintimacy.Mybeingcriedoutforit,andintheworldinwhichIlivedwetookwhatwewanted——whynotthis?AndyetforaninstantIstoodonthesidewalktodiscoverthatinnewsituationsIwasstillsubjecttounaccountablequalmsofthatthingIhadbeentaughttocall\"conscience\";whetheritwereconscienceornotmustbelefttothepsychologists.Iwasmarried——terribleword!theshadowofthatInstitutionfellathwartmeasthesunwentunderacloud;butthesuncameoutagainasIfoundmyselfwalkingtowardtheDurretthousereflectingthatnumbersofmarriedmencalledonNancy,andthatwhatI
hadinmindinregardtoherwasnothingthatthecourtwouldhavepronouncedaninfringementupontheInstitutionIreachedhersteps,thelongstepsstillguardedbythecurvedwrought-ironrailingsreminiscentofNathaniel\'sday,thoughthe\"portals\"weregone,amodernvestibulehavingreplacedthem;Irangthebell;thebutler,flungopenthedoors.He,atanyrate,didnotseemsurprisedtoseemehere,hegreetedmewithrespectfulcordialityandledme,asafavouredguest,throughthebigdrawing-roomintothesalon.
\"Mr.Paret,Madam!\"
Nancy,rosequicklyfromthelowchairwhereshesatcuttingthepagesofaFrenchnovel.
\"Hugh!\"sheexclaimed.\"I\'moutifanyonecalls.Bringtea,\"sheaddedtotheman,whoretired.Foramomentwestoodgazingateachother,questioningly.\"Well,won\'tyousitdownandstayawhile?\"sheasked.
Itookachairontheoppositesideofthefire.
\"IjustthoughtI\'ddropin,\"Isaid.
\"Iamflattered,\"saidNancy,\"thatapersonsoaffaireshouldfindtimetocallonanoldfriend.Why,Ithoughtyouneverleftyourofficeuntilseveno\'clock.\"
\"Idon\'t,asarule,butto-dayIwasn\'tparticularlybusy,andIthoughtI\'dgoroundtotheArtMuseumandlookatyourportrait.\"
\"Moreflattery!Hugh,you\'regettingquitehuman.Whatdoyouthinkofit?\"
\"Ilikeit.Ithinkitquiteremarkable.\"
\"Haveacigarette!\"
Itookone.
\"Soyoureallylikeit,\"shesaid.
\"Don\'tyou?\"
\"Oh,Ithinkit\'satrifle——romantic,\"shereplied\"Butthat\'sCzesky.
Hemademequitecross,——thefemininepresentationofAmerica,thespoiledwomanwhohasshedresponsibilitiesandisbeginningtohaveaglimpse——justalittleone——oftheemptinessofitall.\"
Iwasstirred.
\"Thenwhydoyouacceptit,ifitisn\'tyou?\"Idemanded.\"Onedoesn\'trefuseCzesky\'scanvases,\"shereplied.\"Andwhatdifferencedoesitmake?Itamusedhim,andhewasfairlysubtleaboutit.Onlythosewhoarelookingforromance,likeyou,areabletoguesswhathemeant,andtheywouldthinktheysawitanyway,evenifhehadpaintedme——extinct.\"
\"Extinct!\"Irepeated.
Shelaughed.
\"Hugh,you\'reasillyoldgoose!\"
\"That\'swhyIcamehere,Ithink,tobetoldso,\"Isaid.
Teawasbroughtin.Asenseofat-homenessstoleoverme,——IwasmoreathomehereinthisroomwithNancy,thaninanyotherplaceintheworld;
here,whereeverythingwasatoncesoothingyetstimulating,expressiveofher,eventhesmallerobjectsthatcaughtmyeye,——thecrystalinkstandtippedwithgold,theracksforthetablebooks,herpaper-
cutter.Nancy\'swasadiscriminatingluxury.Andhertalk!Thelightnesswithwhichshetouchedlife,theunexploreddepthsofher,guessedatbutneverfathomed!DidshefeelalittletheneedofmeasI
felttheneedofher?
