Show iA c Q 1 11 1 1 j S ct k Ara 1 SYNOPSIS Victoria l a 1 vivacious little girl gir had been too young to feel the shock that C came when her father Keith Herrendeen lost his fortune A gentle unobtrusive soul he Is now employed as es an nn obscure chemist In San Francisco Francisco Francisco Fran Fran- cisco at a meager s salary ll His wife Magda cannot adjust herself to the the change She is a beautiful wom woman ln fond of pleasure and a Do magnet for mens men's I attention Magda and Victoria have been down at a summer resort and Keith Joins them for the week weekend Magda leaves for a bridge party excusing herself herself her her- self sell for being such a Do runaway Later that night Victoria Is stricken grief when she hears her parents quarreling The return to their small San Francisco Fra apartment Keith does not approve of Magdas Magda's mad social life IlIe and they quarrel frequently Magda Magd l receives flowers and a l diamond from Ferdy Manners Man Manners ners a n wealthy mim man from Argentina whom she had hail met less th than ln a n week before M Manners arrives a few hours later Magda takes Victoria to Ne Nevada lda I to visit a 1 woman friend ho who has a daughter named Catherine There she tells her she Is going to get a l divorce Victoria soon is in boarding school with her friend Catherine Magda marries Manners and they spend two years In Arc Argentina Victoria has studied in Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope fope and at eighteen she visits her mother when Ferdy rents a beautiful home Magda Magd l Is unhappy over Ferdy's drinking and attentions to other women Vic Vie dislikes him but for her mothers mother's sake is nice to him When her mother and l stepfather return to South America 1 Victoria refuses to go with them because of r Ferdy's unwelcome attentions to her Magda l returns J C CHAPTER Ill III-Continued III Continued t 4 Maid dog parrot bags they got into a large waiting car at the Embarcadero Embarcadero Em- Em Mrs Manners talking as is the custom of returned travelers travelers trav trav- elers ele of the amusing steward on the boat the races at Havana of everything unimportant and incon incon- sequential They were driven rapidly rapidly rapidly rap rap- idly up the steep hills to the big hotel everything going with the I smoothness of custom Victorias Victoria's V mother had been arriving and departing departing departing de de- de- de parting in just this manner ever since her second marriage five years earlier Soon Victoria and her mother settled settled settled set set- at luncheon beside the fireWell fire lire Well this is fun said Magda then And now we can talk You look so well Vic Vie and youre you're really handsome Really you jOU are What have you been doing with yourself tell me everything you got my wires Youre the one with the news she said smilingly Nothing has happened here Miss Butler put me meon meon meon on night duty last night only night only the second time and Im I'm dead I had breakfast at the hospital at seven and had to clean up three bathrooms bathrooms bath bath- rooms and stopped on my way downtown to leave my bag here The hospital Magda echoed aghast not hearing the rest Youve been ill Victorias Victoria's smile was reassuring Her color was beginning to comeback comeback come comeback back now as she fell with vigor upon a three-inch three steak and there was revived light in her e eyes es Im in with Catherine she ex ex- ex- ex Student nurses Mrs Manners sat back and regarded regarded regarded re re- re- re her with puzzled eyes Mummy youre you're such fun its fun its it's such fun to be talking to you again and its it's the best food I ever tasted y But darling Victoria pleaded I had to do something I couldn't just take a a room somewhere and wait for you You were with Ferdy way down in S South uth America andI and andI I was absolutely on the loose But you were with Anna and Catherine Aunt Anna got a most flattering offer from a school in Cleveland We couldn't go with her and Kitts Kittsy was going to be a nurse So I went along to the hospital with he her You are handsome Madga said under her breath not listen listen- ing Dont they let you use makeup make make- up at all Not on duty and you sort of get out of the habit What are arc you looking looking looking look look- ing at Victoria asked with an embarrassed laugh as her mother continued her placid scrutiny Well youre you're simply adorable Vicky she said at length and you get enthusiastic just the way you used to But But although although Its It's a little littIe soon to talk about It I had rather a different plan in mind for you I was thinking of Europe after your debut Europe Vicky echoed her own eyes suddenly blazing She remembered remembered remembered her student year there under the gentle unremitting chaperonage of ot the Dominican nuns Again she heard the fountains of Rome splashing splashing splashing splash splash- ing saw the lights of the Place de dela dela la Concorde setting white while statues and dark tree tops In bold relief relic against a blue night sky caught a whiff of wet spring greenness from the grass beside the London Mall Oh Mummy she said Would you like it in Oh wc well Mother you Mother you and I I Victorias Victoria's voice shook with excite excite- ment We Ve two Ferdy wouldn't mind Instead of answering Mrs Manners Manners Manners Man Man- ners looked away through the exquisite exquisite exquisite ex ex- silky shadows of low half ered lashes Victorias Victoria's heart sank she knew that gentle patience she knew v that long resigned sigh AUwas All AU was not going well between her mother and Ferdy The luncheon was cleared away the two women resumed their chairs by the wood fire There arc are a thousand persons to whom I ought to telephone Madga Madga said lazily I 1 wont won't I love this sitting here with you You haven't I told me anything about yourself Vicky have you seen or heard anything anything anything any any- thing of your father The question came suddenly and with it the color rose to Magdas Magda's face Yes I 1 saw Dad about two weeks ago she said aloud Magda added no further questions questions questions ques ques- but her eyes were expectant Hes married again you know Mummy I wrote you that And they're going to have a baby They were married last February and the they expect the baby at Christmas He simply adores Olivette Olivett and hes he's all excited about the bab baby Ha Magda said and fell thoughtful Still up in Seattle I He He says he loves it Magda l twisted the Herrendeen pearls In beautiful restless fingers But for some reason or other she felt a little chill in the air felt that her mother wasn't wholly pleased with the news that Dad was happy and that a new baby was wason wason wason on the way Ferdy said Madga out of thought thought Ferdy Ferdy Is a strange creature creature crea crea- ture Vicky I may as well tell you now as at any time that everything's everything's everything's every every- things thing's wrong wrong its Its It's all wrong Victoria was silent puzzled and after a pause Magda went on lightly light light- ly And so so Mr Fernando Ainsa y Castello Manners and I have decided decided deckled de de- de- de to separate No no no not nota a c divorce she she interrupted herself to sa say quickly as ns Vicky's Vichy's stricken face was turned from the fire tire in involuntary protest He doesn't want a divorce If he got a divorce divorce divorce di di- vorce Maud Campbell would have him married before he could turn turnaround turnaround around so he doesn't want a divorce divorce divorce di di- vorce and neither do I. I If you get geta a a- divorce they can do all aU sorts of funny things about alimony go to court and have it adjusted and lessened less less- ened I ened-I I dont don't know what they cant can't do But a separation means ns that you and I can l live ve where we like and do as we please And nd so its it's tobe to tobe tobe be Europe off Europe off we go gal I Ill I'll ll get you some things things things-or or we can get them diem there there- The only thing Victoria began somewhat hesitantly Ought Ferdy pay for me too I mean its it's all allright allright allright right for a visit visit its its it's all right for or a afew afew few months But after all all after after all he doesn't owe me me- me Its my money and youre you're with me me Magda explained simply with witha a touch of at impatience tience I was thinking of Ferdy Vic Magda said out of a silence and thinking thinking- she stopped for a long sigh thinking sigh thinking of at the tremendous differ difference nce there Is in in men she saidI saidI said I mean Vic Vie she began again as Victoria could find nothing to tosa sa say say I I I mean t that well that well I 1 suppose I was was was- thinking of Lucius Farmer he A familiar tightening tightening tighten tighten- ing a familiar sinking se sensation was at Victorias Victoria's heart Oh dear Oh dear This was commencing again was It You must know his name d dar dar- r- r ling Hes He's about the most successful successful success success- ful painter of murals in America He made the trip with us from irom Buenos Aires but he lives down here in Carmel with a perfectly impossible wife wite and daughters And what did dd the impossible wife and daughters think of you Mummy Mummy Mum Mum- my I Oh they weren't along perish along perish I the thought No he was alone I Magdas Magda's voice fell to a n dreamy I note One of oi the finest men men men- she said under her breath I mean one of the simplest and and and-and and biggest big big- gest and gest-and and gentlest gentlest- This life lite would be heaven for women Vie Vic if iI f many men were like I him And again Victoria could find nothing to say Lucius Farmer came tc see them the next morning Magda was restless Victoria had gone into her own room to try on a gown her mother had brought her It was of sheer batiste embroidered delicately with tiny garlands of roses all in white while It was the sort of gown that makes any girls girl's eyes dance and Victoria coming back backwith backwith backwith with its frail folds blowing about her wore the radiant expression that only a new gown gives to twenty years She halted at the sight of a strange tall man standing at the foggy window talking with her mother They both turned Victoria's Victorias Victorias Victoria's Vic Vie toria's torla's hand was taken In a big hard hand She liked the man at once one must like him there was something about Lucius that disarmed disarmed disarmed dis dis- dis- dis armed criticism that won all h hearts e car a r t s. s Something simple and friendly and a little uncertain and timid and at the same time something something something some some- thing definite and vital there was wasa a world of mirth a childs child's secret and delicious merriment in his gray eyes He was not smiling this morning he seemed serious and burdened immediately the pleasantries of greeting had died away Victoria presently going back to her room could hear through the open doorway doorway door door- way the gravity of his tone as he and her mother talked at the window window win win- dow their heads together I cant can't Magda he said more than once Im so sorry sorry sorry-I I cant But when Victoria came out again to find her mother alone there was ai air au of disappointment or defeat in Mrs Manners' Manners attitude She was glowing with inner fires she was shaken laughing ecstatic She put her arms arms about Vicky held the girl away from her to laugh into her eyes My darling do you like him Victoria regarded her with a smile that had small heart in it i the question question question-do do you Vic on the steamer the day we left Buenos BuenosAires Aires we found each other Magda Magda- said He came up to me and said Arent you the Valdes' Valdes friend Senora Manners I dont don't know how he ever nerved himself to do it it for hes he's not like that as a rule But he said he had hads s seen e me at the country club We hardly spoke to anyone else on the voyage we had our meals on deck we talked and talked as ns If Il we never could talk enough For the first time in my life Vic I have met a man who stirs i ir in me me- me something something something-something something that I might have been might have had Magda Magda Magda Mag- Mag da continued He loves me I know that although hes he's never told me so But It isn't that Its It's the companionship the exquisite delight i 1 V i 4 f n t tt t t tI tr r I Love This Sitting Here With You of being understood understood understood-understood understood Magda broke off to say in amused scorn corn He knows mows more than I of everything everything books books music people And his attitude toward life Is so beautiful uI so simple and eager and fine There was a silence Magda smiled and wiped suddenly wet eyes and Victoria smiled too a mothers mother's patient smile for a child So what the girl asked good- good So nothing my darling that's the tragedy Magda answered lightly and there was another another- silence si si- si- si lence No she went on presently ending end ending end end- ing in-b it Ferdy gets here next week and Lucius goes down to his wife wile and the little girls in Carmel and tha that's t s the end The day moved on That night when they went downstairs downstairs downstairs down down- stairs to join the Kendalls and be carried r. r n off nIT fora n dinner Victo ria saw Lucius and a woman and two gawky dark shy girls all sitting in inthe inthe inthe the great red chairs of the hotel foyer evidently waiting for someone some some- one Was it for Mother Whether it was or not they all came over to Vic Vie and Magda and there were Introductions Mrs I Farmer was a plain stout wholesome wholesome whole whole- some looking little woman in glasses with ropes of oily gray- gray brown hair wound round about her head The girls were like her although both gave promise of some beauty Ann Constance Victoria Vicky said her mother In the course of the next few days when you fall in love make it with a man manto manto manto to whom you can be an inspiration Its It's a sacred thing its thing its it's worth all the pain and the ache to inspire a truly great man At first Victoria felt most pity forthe for forthe the man He was v clever keen affectionate affectionate af af- af- af simple and he was suffering suffering suf suf- fering ferine cruelly After Atter a few weeks she perceived that her mother was in misery as great as his l I Magda carried it better but it was there Ferdy was back now restless irritable irritable ir ir- ir- ir unreasonable He went to races fights polo games with men he went ofT off on hunting and fishing trips Sometimes Victoria thou thought ht him entirely oblivious of what was going on sometimes she thought he knew Magda was burning up with it she could not have wholly cond con can it even if Il she would She glowed and trembled laughed and cried she was strangely awkwardly awkwardly awkwardly awk awk- like a n girl again again n a girl upon whom the inexorable forties had set their tragic seaL seat Somehow Somehow Somehow Some Some- how It hurt Victoria to the thc deeps of at her soul to see her mothers mother's agony in this grip of young love Lucius was fighting it grimly honestly uselessly Ho and Magda Masda met sat long iong over hotel tea tables telling each other that this must be bethe bethe bethe the end that there was no honor no happiness for them except in renunciation Magda In hi her dark violet velvet with the broad brim brImat of at her dark velvet hat shadowing her splendid eyes and the rich goldbrown goldbrown goldbrown gold- gold brown of sables setting off her exquisite exquisite ex ex- skin was perhaps as beautiful beautiful beau beau- at such moments as she had ever been in her life lile Just to be with Lucius brought the transparent ent color to her face and the strange liquid pulsing to her eyes I But when they h had ld parted it |