Show Joe Is Gentle With Lovely Nonsense Marcia Cosgrave's voice was gentle It isn't the house and anyhow nothing will happen tonight What could Everything is perfect Too nearly perfect Marcia said thoughtfully Theres generally generally generally gener gener- ally some little difficulty about such things But there isn't at all with this We love Emily as if she was already ady our daughter And the Perrys are delighted to have Roger for a son I I- I her voice broke off sharply then Oh Kar How could you Roger could see through the door His well meaning careless but fond father had dropped his hat on the bed and put his arms around her to kiss her Marcia was concerned with the hat It was one of her pet superstitions superstitions superstitions that a hat on the bed meant something bad would happen She lifted it quickly and handed it to Cosgrave ve You would darling And just justat at a time like this Cosgrave laughed gently He adored his wife's little whimsies You make me as nervous as asa asa asa a cat in a strange garret Kar Emily was lovely that night as she walked into Aunt Amalia's living room Beautiful in a withdrawn withdrawn withdrawn with with- drawn cool crystalline way She was perfect in that setting Aunt Amalia lived in the past Old Tradition Is Continued Sherry Sherry not not a cocktail was cocktail was served before dinner in glasses that had known three generations of Amalia Amalia's hands were as small and as fine as those of the first exquisite Amalia who'd seen George Washington Washington Washington Wash Wash- ington ride through their property property property prop prop- erty stop gallantly and bend to kiss her mothers mother's hand after enjoying enjoying enjoying en en- her tea and cakes Amalia liked Emily too Emily moved about her house among her fine things as if she belonged there Roger had a fleeting ting vision of Lovely in that room Involuntarily Involuntarily Involuntarily he passed his hand be before before before be- be fore his eyes It wouldn't do Just wouldn't fit Emily had come with wilh her parents parents parents par par- her very much pleased mother and her oddly nervous father Roger had noticed a growIng growing growing grow grow- ing nervousness and tautness about Mr Perry He wondered vaguely if weddings affected fathers that way Perry had acqui acquired acquired ac ac- ac- ac qui ed a trick of walking up to Roger staring at him intently and saying sharply take care of her boy Emily needs someone someone someone some some- one to look after her She's never been away from us It was as asIf asif asit If it after their marriage they were going to another world It annoyed annoyed annoyed an an- noyed Roger And as they stood in the hall a moment Roger had heard him say in that same nerve ous raspy voice I think we should tell them now now make make a clean sweep of the whole thing He hadn't heard Mrs Irs Perrys Perry's reply Candles Candle in silver sliver holders lighted light light- ed the beautiful scene that was Amalia's dining room Their soft glow brought out the pattern of the rich heavy damask and reflected on fine old silver and china Facets of light caught the loveliness of rare crystal Yellow roses In a low Jow bowl lay Jay a warm glow on the polished mahogany of a side table and scented the air faintly Conversation was a low pleasant pleasant pleasant pleas pleas- ant eddy moving through the large old room White gloved ser- ser on Following Page Pace |