Show ca en I 1 Z 0 im A zt Z S or ima i sr k CHAPTER X continued 14 the girls behind him he present ly inferred were members ot of the company not playing this evening they talked of a trip to the coast which the company was to make durino during the autumn and early win iter ter iu jim listened filling in the time before the performance commenced has jeremy descended condescended con to tc sign up tor fr the trip it was the tall girl who asked the question Jer jeremy emyl I 1 on the the answering voice had a lyric quality light lilting clear you insult him darling our jeremy has his eyes on bigger and better things his girls papa is going to back a play lor for him at least that is what he modestly intimates sol A low throaty laugh something romantic I 1 suppose costumes perhaps he win will need to look very beautiful not to waste papas money it wont matter whether he can act or not I 1 think he can ca n at least hes terribly effective I 1 sah A gong rang the deep blue curtain slithered open disclosing the stage the performance began jeremy was effective jim realized that as he saw him make his first entrance dressed in evening clothes a silk hat held negligently in the crook of his arm he felt the reaction of the audience largely feminine and knew that the girl behind him was right it pr probably made no difference whether jeremy could or could not act 1 the play was a broadway success of a few seasons past jeremy played the role of a young italian opera singer who meets in a speakeasy in new york a little southern girl doing the town with her fiance a surly young prig from east orange the girl was small and dainty by contrast jeremy appeared tall and and romantically handsome his voice was caressing his accent authentic his profile undeniably handsome but was it acting jim did not know cecily thought he had genius but cecily was in love with him jims curiosity was being satisfied buts but beyond that the evening was being wasted he made no s startling tart ling discoveries clyde was effective in a role that might have been written especially for him the theater was stuffy jims legs felt cramped he left his seat as the lights came on tor for the intermission at the end of the first act cecily too had risen was walking up the aisle she saw him and waved they met in the small crowded lobby hello she said hello how about a breath of nir air what im looking tor for 1 I thought perhaps you were looking for me no she smiled you are a nice lice surprise they stood on the steps of the theater jim lit her cigarette lit his own flicked the match away are you interested in the drama miss vaughn she laughed we are being polite arent we so stupid jim do you want to see the rest of the play 1 I can take it or leave it lets leave it then ive seen it four times this summer its one of the best things jerry does her voice brightened lets run over to dutcha how about jeremy well be back here by the time the performance is over jim took her arm all right he said lets go they walked to the fawn colored roadster will you drive she asked want me to please im awfully tired she settled into the seat with a little sigh of relief ive been driving all afternoon we went up to new hope and along the canal I 1 adore jerry but I 1 wont ride in a car he drives there were only a few scattered groups in dutcha garden two or three couples moving about the floor A waiter led them to a secluded stall at iome some distance from the orchestra want to dance jim asked when the waiter had taken their order she shook her head im weary I 1 just want to sit youre so restful jim thank you he said 1 I mean it I 1 like to be with you she pulled off her hat rested her head against the trellis behind her she looked weary jim thought dispirited there were taint faint shadows under dereyes he her reyes eyes what is 13 it cecily jim asked what is troubling you do you want to tell me of coursed course why I 1 you will you listen jim my one accomplishment the waiter brought tall glasses cecily took a few sips and sether set her glass aside its jerry she said after a i moment you astonish me he said 1 I thought it was the new issue of government bonds she smiled faintly do you mind if I 1 talk about jerry she asked 1 I mean after the night we danced will it hurt you jim that important 1 I think it is she glanced up at him fleetingly looked down at her fingers angers snapping the purple and scarlet pod jim bent toward her across the table cecily he asked gravely will you try not to think of what happened that night you cant entirely I 1 suppose neither of course can I 1 but dont let it spoil our well friendship tor for want of acmore a more adequate word anything that I 1 can say will make me sound sound self dicing and noble I 1 dont feel especially noble its really felds selfishness liness perhaps I 1 want you to talk to me the lne smile vanished her expression sion was weary again ive had an exhausting day ive been trying to make jerry see that he should go with the cherry hollow company on their tour this fall you see ive talked to father he cant put money into a play tor for jerry now he explained it all to me I 1 had no idea how bow much hes lost during the depres depression sioni but im afraid jerry wont understand zell think Ws prejudice or something and im afraid he has talked about father backing a play tor for him jim knew that her apprehension was correct jeremy had talked the conversation he be had overheard in the theater made him hara aware of ahk that he waitea in na silence for cecily to io continue 1 I dont like the idea of not seeing jerry all fall and half the winter she went on ill miss him awfully but I 1 think its a splendid opportunity the company has a certain amount of prestige wesley north is an excellent director the experience would be valuable jerry like road trips jim asked for an instant her eyes flashed with indignation what if he she said sharply 1 I dont suppose you really liked picking beans and changing tires tirell jim was surprised and touched lie he felt and controlled a feeling of elation but I 1 artistic temperament he said lightly J jerry erry has of course the indignation dig nation was gone her eyes held a brooding expression hes either flying among the stars or sunk in the depths of gloom lie he acts at times like a spoiled little boy A note of affectionate indulgence in her voice softened the criticism and I 1 do nag him she added nag jim disposed of the ugly word you nag anybody 1 I do she said thoughtfully 1 I cant seem to help nagging even when I 1 know it irritates him I 1 want him to do the fine things of which he is capable I 1 love him and believe in him jerry like spurs lie he get on very well with wesley north because mr north digs the spurs in too jerrys been so accustomed to praise and flattery im just finding that out you see ive never been with him so she broke off with a rueful smile and a quick glance at jim that was fathers idea of course he thought if I 1 knew jerry better your idea jim reminded her feeling again for a moment that lifting elation 1 I know she sighed im making mountains out of mole hills tonight im making you think that jerry is petty and selfish self ish and unreasonable he is at times who wha but hes splendid too im tired and disappointed and a little exasperated I 1 was I 1 mean I 1 feel better now she breathed deeply smiled across the table at jim thank you she said 1 I done anything youve let me talk I 1 can talk to iou you do you you remember when we hated each other 1 I can just barely remember jim smiled you hated me longer than I 1 hated you her eyes were soft and bright with amusing memories youre a disconcerting young lady you arent sorry are you the laughing lights died out ot of her eyes what happened the evening we danced made you regret being at Meadow meadowbrook brook were all so fond of at you ym father susan tommy I 1 no rm im not sorry jim said this ibis summer has been a break tor for me he paused looked clowry own at his glass it II he could talk to her indirectly without hurting her or antagonizing agonizing aLt her he felt terribly inadequate it if he were wiser and more articulate if he were not so deeply in love with her she looked at him with sympathy and Inte interest resL how especially has it been a break tor for you sho she asked 1 I think living everything is a question ol of values he said slowly there are times when wo wi w i dont see clearly its like being in a place of shadows a deep forest a lamp lit room distortions falsities falsifies seem true because we have no mea measure sure of comparison then after a time we come out into the sunlight do you understand im not good at symbolism but the thought beneath it Is true I 1 know it Is true because it has happened to me before you came here she asked yes there was something I 1 thought I 1 could do something false and distorted then I 1 came here when one lives and works in the sun shadows seem unsubstantial I 1 have for a time at least re bushed my seals scale ot of values thais why im not sorry youve given me something to think about abou I 1 dont know sometimes her eyes glanced thoughtfully across the garden jim watching her waiting for the conclusion i of the sentence saw her suddenly startled expression theres the nolan girl from the theaters thea terl she said what time Is it it jim jim consulted his watch ten minutes past eleven good heavens heaven sl 1 jerry Is waiting for mel she caught up her hat a and nd her purse come on jim lets tim jim sent the lawn fawn colored roadster speeding along the return route to cherry hollow he had felt for a moments moment very close to cecily now he ha had bad lost her again beneath her bar comments and vt m alfr I 1 t N I 1 4 j 0 f 2 come ou on jim lets fly alons he felt her anxiety when he brought the car to a skidding stop in the theater drive she was out before he be could make a motion to assist her the headlights revealed a small group of people standing on the steps jeremy detached himself from the group as cecily walked quickly toward the steps and came to meet her jerry darling im so corryl cecily slipped her arm through his in a conciliating gesture are you the arm she sha held was unresponsive jim and I 1 went over to dutcha her voice was quick and light you been waiting long have you it was stuffy in the theater you were marvelous in the first act how did the other two go you arent particularly interested are you darlinge Dar lingl cecilya Cec ilys voice was coaxing a little exasperated more than a little alarmed ive seen that play four times this summer do you want to stop at dutcha lets go home and have scrambled eggs jim took a step in the direction of the he car goodnight good night he said cecily turned to him goodnight she said with a gay little gesture of farewell thank you goodnight good night jim goodnight good night fielding jeremy said on a curt note of dismissal driving back to meadowbrook Meadow brook jim made plans for the future he would put a cot in the office at the riding academy and get a kerosene stove in the village he going to hang around while clyde was there he would keep out of it none of 0 his business anyway the fellow disliked him disliked himl there was something more virulent than dislike in his voice when he said goodnight good night what right did he have to take that superior tone with cecily of what was she guilty unintentionally hurting hurling his pride perhaps that was an all the third week in september mr vaughn went with a party of friends on a fishing trip to maine he sent tor for jim the morning of 0 his departure jim arriving at meadowbrook Meadow brook in answer to the summons found his employer in an eleventh hour hub hub bub of packing and final instructions miss parker send mid rose were scurrying about the second floor locating garments which had beef packed away since the last trip they think im going to little america mr vaughn fumed good natu indicating the array of 0 garments piled on the bed and the th sofa in his room mr vaughn was in high good humor excited genial jina jim went with him to the game room where the fishing equipment ready to be packed covered the th ping pong table 1 I had to work like the devil to get the doctors permission to go he said tenderly un jointing rods laying them flannel wrapped in a leather traveling case the time very convenient id rather not leave ho home me while cecily cecilya Cec ilys I 1 s guest Is here miss parker will it bo a busy getting the youngsters ready for school still I 1 suppose theres nothing to worry about nothing at all jim assured him these flies files are beauties pretty fine collection mr vaughn said with a certain degree of complacence pack them carefully jim well ill be I 1 chos been with this mr vaughn was examining a bamboo rod which had been broken and mended jim laughed im afraid im guilty of the mending he ha said the day I 1 came here susan was fishing in the brook I 1 startled her she tell fell off the bridge and broke the rod I 1 had to make an attempt to repair the damage since it was partly my fault I 1 not a bad job mr vaughn was in too high a state of anticipation to be annoyed by a broken rod so how you wormed your way ay into susans esteem Is 13 that a pun he twinkled at jim 1 I suppose it is funny he added laying aside the bamboo rod ashes the only one of the children who seems to have inherited my passion for fishing ill have to take her with me some time ashes as game as a brook trout and that reminds me I 1 ordered some casting rods from new york they come this morning ill leave you the address of the camp in maine will you come up here s some ome time tomorrow and readdress them tor for me yes sir jim replied are you comfortable at I 1 the riding academy mr BIT vaughn asked oh yes jim smiled rm im becoming an excellent cook now that hat I 1 have electricity and a telephone I 1 feel as though im living in a suite at the ritz well keep an eye on things what time is it post past eleve elevell nl mr vaughn thrust his watch into his pocket strap up these things for me will you and take thorn them out to the car mr vaughn finally got off a little after twelve in a flurry of affectionate farewells the trunk rack on the sedan piled high with luggage jim did not linger at meadowbrook Meadow brook after the sedan had disappeared around the curve in the drive he returned at once to the riding academy avoiding any conversation with cecily and cyde cyde who had dashed in from somewhere at the last minute to see mr vaughn oil off on his fishing trip it had not been difficult to avoid cecily and her guest the afternoon following the last performance at the theater they had paid him a visit at the riding academy at the moment of their arrival jim had been converting the office into living quarters with susans enthuse ent husli aftic but somewhat officious assistance the visit had bad been amicable P on the surface at least mutually friendly and pk pleasant amant cecily a and nd jeremy had inspected jims new quarters jokingly admired his un esthetic arrangement of a cot and rid a kerosene stove a few cooking cooking utensils a table and an armchair borrowed from the ons he had used the subterfuge of a brush fire endangering the academy to explain his bis change of residence and it had bad been accepted without question jim knew that the call was an apology artfully maneuvered by cecily though no mention was made of the previous evening clyde was agreeable apparently interested te in the project and cecily had been radiant that afternoon the fatigue of the evening eveling before had vanished if for a time her faith in jeremy had been shaken jim interred inferred that it had been completely restored she had had that shining look of happiness whenever since then jim had had a glimpse of her he told himself that he was glad she and jeremy had adjusted their difficulties it was possible to believe that during the busy working day |