Show A t- t 4 S 'S S 4 v S f 5 S St 55 5 S f S S' S iY t. t You know Virginia fm Im m dead ead in love with Russell JJ I I had risen between them mocking moCking his plans Mr Dean Deap was was v as waiting to welcome welcome welcome wel wel- come the new member of his household household household house house- hold and there was no no lack o of ot warmth in his manner He lie drew drew- her her- close with his hands on her shoulders and brushed a nl nice e kIsson kiss kisson on her forehead Clarissa standing 1 nearby allowed a queer smile to lift one corner of her mouth She be believed believed be- be she was seeing things very clearly Dont come down to lunch unless you care to she told Virginia on the way upstairs with herId herId herId her Id rather not Virginia ad ad- ad Clarissa saw her settled In her room and started to go but at the thedoor thedoor thedoor door she she- turned QI ni ona a sudden sudden- Im Impulse Impulse impulse Im- Im pulse and and remarked seemingly apropos of bf nothing You know Virginia Im I'm dead In Inlove Inlove inlove love with Russell Virginia regarded her in surprise Im s sure re you must be she said Hes really very nice Clarissa Yes hes he's attractive Clarissa agreed but what might be more important hes he's also rich As rich I should say a as as' as father or or he will willbe willbe willbe be some day Quite Quit a catch if someone someone someone some some- one who needed marry to for money could mana manage e tx tO to lure him him- away from me and mr laughed Dill But such a per person peron on would find her path strewn with many difficulties sh she added and laughed laughed- again a laugh that bewildered Virginia be because because because be- be cause of its Why you tal talk k as though you rou weren't sure of him Im not No Nov v woman man can ever be sure of any rich ma man mah while there are penniless w women men in the world Clarissa returned sl slowly Virginia shrank as from a physical cal blow Penniless women she sh- sh mu murmured red pen penniless women women wo wo- wo I men I S Exactly my dear Clarissa said easily Virginia looked at her ber squarely But nut I 1 should think you OU would believe believe believe be be- lieve in Russell if only because he has money rooney she said gravely He doesn't need to make a wealthy wealthy- marriage If It you think all an penni- penni less lessi people are also fortune hunters hunter you might have reason to doubt doub him if he were p poor por or Yes I 1 have the satisfaction o of knowing he isn't after dads dad's money Clarissa acknowledged But to get back to the thc point tIle the fact that tha he will inherit a fortune only makes make hl hi his latitude in the choice of a wife so much wider He can afford to i marry an anyone one he wishes 1 S And he has chosen you VIrginia Vir VIr- ginia said softly With my help Clarissa appended append append- ed frankly but that oughtn't t to tobe tobe be startling to you Virginia How do you mean Virginia asked truly at t a loss to understand her friends friend's remark Clarissa eyed her silently for a moment with the faintest hint o oa of ofa a sneer neer on her perfectly rouged lips Oh 01 well she shrugged if you prefer the ridiculous lous pretensions o of our grandmother But in m that c cas casI case caseI se I 1 should hould say you you are hardly being true to your your our convictions Clarissa you are talking In rid rid- dies 1 Really neally Then tell me mc is it coli- coli eon con to to pretend you still believe that men do the choosing and ye yet ct act as much a modern as you ha have ve 7 Is it modern to grieve for fot a father ather Is that what you mean mean Well VeIl I 1 do think you haven't al allowed allowed allowed al- al lowed your grief to cloud your judgment judg judg- ment Virginia That's why I sa say you are a modern even if you do re refus re- re fus the language I suppose you say that because I came here instead of marrying Nathaniel You would understand Clarissa if you had lost a parent Oh of course I know you were devoted you and your our father Clarissa admitted grudgingly But Bu took he her you OU know mothers mother's divorce awa away from froni me just as much as I if she had died But ButI I cant can't recall recal that it robbed me of my power t to think for myself However I It do doesn't matter Im I'm glad your youre here Virginia for reasons of my myown myown myown own which I 1 promise to tell you Ou some da day Then you really are are- sincere about it I was beginning to wondel wonder won won- der del Clarissa if as pleased as you said Nonsense dear youre you're as welcome welcome welcome wel wel- come as ag Lindy Only Im I'm glad wee weve had this little talk im i'm sure W we understand each other now She kissed Virginia and went out leaving the latt latter r to ponder over the little talk If it It weren't too utterly absurd Td rl say sav she was warning me mp not to trespass ss with Russell Virginia told herself I wonder were er end cJ for forthe I th the moment however by bya a rap on I Ithe the he door v To To- Tobe be continued I 5 t S 'S S |