Show iA ic z N SYNOPSIS Victoria a vivacious little girl had been too young to feel the shock that came come when her father Keith lost his fortune A gentle unobtrusive soul soul he Is now employed as an obscure chemist In San Francisco at a meager salary His wile wife Magda cannot adjust herself hersell to the change She is a beautiful woman fond of pleasure and a magnet for mens men's attention Magda and Victoria have been down at ata ata ata a summer resort and Keith Joins them for the weekend week Magda leaves for a abridge abridge bridge party excusing herself for beIng being being be be- ing such a runaway The return to their small San Sn Francisco apartment Keith does docs not approve approve of Magdas Magda's mad social life and they rell frequently Magda receives flowers from a wealthy man from Crom Argentina whom she had met less than a week eek before belore Manners arrives a a. few hours I later Mac Magda takes Victoria to Nevada to I visit a woman friend who has a 3 daughter named Catheri Catherine e. e There she tells her hershe hershe hershe she Is going to get a divorce Victoria soon Is In boarding school with her friend Catherine Magda marries Man Manners Manners ners and they spend two years in Argen Argeo- tina tinn Victoria has st studied In Europe and at eighteen she visits her mother when Ferdy rents a beautiful be home Magda is unhappy over Ferdy's drinking drink ing and attentions to other women VIe Vic dislikes him When her mother and stepfather stepfather step step- father return to South America Victoria refuses t to go with them because of Ferdy's Ferdy's Fer- Fer dys dy's unwelcome attentions to her Magda returns and tells telis Vie Vic she and Ferdy have separated Meanwhile Keith has remarried Victoria is now a student student stu stu- stu dent nurse Magda has fallen in love with ith Lucius Farmer Fa a married artist While she and Vie Vic prepare for a trip to Europe Ferdy takes a n suite in their hotel The night before beCore Magda and Vie Vic are arc to sail salt Magda elopes with Lucius Farmer While nursing the children children chil chil- dren of Dr and Mrs Keats Vie Vic meets Dr Quentin HardIsty a brilliant physician cian clan much sought after by women women who is a widower with a crippled daugh ter In a tete-a-tete tete at the Keats Kelts home borne he kisses Vie Vic Several Severa days later he invites her with wilh other guests to spend a week end at his cabin CHAPTER V Continued V G 6 A. Five o'clock came Six o'clock came Nervous huh Quentin Hardisty Hardisty Har Har- disty asked looking up smiled led flush flush- Not very the girl ing lug Why at all Well then not nervous at all aU Vie Vic said laughing But there is is something fundamentally fundamentally disturb disturb disturbing ing about being shut up in a lone mountain cabin with a handsome and fascinating man she reminded reminded reminded re re- re- re minded him Listen why do you rub in that fascinating handsome stuff That's the third time tune The second I think Ive seen you the man Insisted Insist Insist- ed cd when you were nothing short I of well or well theres there's only one word for forit forit forit it beautiful Thank you Seriously there arent aren't many real beauties and the few Ive I've known have had a vile time Well Vell coming back to first principles principles principles prin prin- Dr Hardisty said dont worry about the Uphams they'll ge get here And i if they didn't I assure you that you'd be as safe as my myown myown myown own sister The girl looked across at him handsome and brown and quite serious serious se se- se- se rious in the soft fire and lamplight and her h-er heart gave an odd twist a physical plunge of emotion Her throat thickened suddenly and she j felt silly and confused But she sheI I gave no sign of it and before either she or her host spoke again the Uphams Uphams Uphams Up Up- hams arrived in a gay flurry of apologies and after that everything was smooth sailing The two women were relegated to the south alcove drew their curtain curtain cur cur- tam tain and proceeded with their unpacking unpacking unpacking un un- un- un packing and changing to a lively exchange of gossip Dora was going going go go- ing lag to have a bab baby in six months nobody knew it but Chase but they were tremendously excited Vic Vie was all sympathetic enthusiasm here There might be some question question ques ques- tion lion In her heart henrt and mind as to wifehood but motherhood was all joy Oh Dora I envy you Im terribly happy happy- about it this fun being over here together and just ourselves I adore this shack We had our hone honeymoon moon here And isn't he a darling Vic Vie listen Dora paused 3 L Oh shut up Vie Vic said denyIng denyIng deny- deny Ing the impeachment before it was voiced No but listen dont don't you think hes he's darling Dr Hardisty Yes I do If he liked you There isn't the slightest chance of 0 it even if you continue to broadcast broadcast broadcast broad broad- cast your our romantic suspicions all allover allover over Mill Valley Vie Vic began Dora sank her voice to a whisper Just the same They same They cant can't hear their showers shower's going Dora said Just uJust the same you'd oud be an awful fool not to marry him if you could Vie Ill never marry anyone myone Vie Vic tf If said putting on a blue apron un til Im I'm foaming at the mouth about him And Ill I'll never foam at af the mouth about anyone for before I reach that point Ill I'll take m my little throat indoors and cut it So dont don't worry about me Trimly equipped they went out outto outto outto to the kitchen where the younger I doctor was mixing something liquid liquid liquid In a small pail pall and the older one busy with a salad They all worked together getting in each others other's way getting more and more hungry as the clocks clock's hands slipped from rom past half sL six to seven from irom seven to eight The boy carried the steaks into the shed where they were to broil on a charcoal charcoal charcoal char char- coal fire Victoria sampled the salad saladon on a bit of cracker is the That she said firmly most delicious salad I ever tasted It was a long and delightful meal Presently they carried their cups to the fire and Mock Suey cleared away the table and still nobody made a move to go to bed and the logs burned on on and the level branches of the redwoods swept across the low roof in the restless wind of the spring night You girls going to freeze Believe me we have our hot hot- water bottles Dora said firmly Victoria raising her eyes with a sleepy smile met Quentin Hardisty's Hardisty's Hardis- Hardis tys ty's steady look and was disturbed to feel herself hersell flushing But when she and Dora finally did drag themselves themselves themselves them them- selves oft off to the raised platform where their beds were and had drawn the canvas curtain against the warm sitting room and the fire she was conscious of a sort of dancing excitement in her veins This was all such fun There was a rattle at the curtain rings Victoria put her head through them thorn and found Quentin Hardisty standing close to her at the other side Victorias Victoria's hair had been gathered to the top of her head In a mass of careless tawny curls her young face was rosy from rom heroic washing with scented soap her eyes danced Here are two extra extra things things the doctor said a little confusedly stone water hot-water bottles some people like em Cm Anyway they'll keep hot until morning Oh God bless you mister Victoria Victoria Vietoria Vic Vie toria said the curtains parting as I she put out her arms to show her herI I slim body In square striped blue-striped pajamas open at the soft young throat You look like a doll the man said in a whisper Victoria stood still her throat t suddenly sud- sud sud sud- denly thick She smiled at him confusedly Youre re lovely Quentin said He laid his hand on her arm Goodnight Goodnight Good night he be said and somehow theAnd the theAnd 1 A flu I Uld IlI l lr r r 4 fAnd f And Isn't He lie a Darling familiar little word was not a fare fare- well It was everything quivering thrilling amazing breath taking Hardly Y knowing what she did carried carried car car- ried ned away ay from her moorings by an impulse thousands of at years older than she was Victoria stooped a little from tram her higher position rested her face against his for one second of madness and vertigo and breathed an answering Goodnight Goodnight Goodnight Good night But In the morning she forgot everything except that a new deLicious delicious delicious deli deli- cious day had dawned and had brought complete happiness with it Everyone was in wild spirits on this singing spring morning How about a walk Quentin said then The Uphams declined Chase was sleepy and Dora tired But Victoria in an old short skirt a white while cap an enveloping borrowed sweater of Quentin's was all nIl ready for it She and her host went of oil I together for one of ot lifes life's happy hours I They climbed straight up the great shoulder of at the mountain stopped panting and flushed to get their breath and to to look down dOVD on the sparkling world went on again The sun was hot on the singing blue February morning but the ground under their feet especially when the trail went Into the woods was soaked and slippery from recent recent re re- rc- rc cent rains Quentin gave her his hs hand she slid against him they both laughed Reaching the summit of the spur with the dark blue rise of Tamalpais high above them they sat upon a warmed sun-warmed rock for tor a while lookIng looking looking look- look Ing down breathing in the aromatic sweetness of the still clear air listening listening listening list list- ening to the cries of larks all about and the occasional scream of a jay jayor or chatter of a II chipmunk in the chaparral When they started to slip and slide down the going was infinitely easier especially with the tree- tree smothered brown goal of the cabin roo roof right ahead Vicky and Quentin Quentin Quentin Quen Quen- tin came back to the cabin at one o'clock breathless ravenous and weary wenry Once again the quartette that gathered about the table tabla was In Ingala Ingala I gala mood More than once again Victoria told herself hersel that this was one of the good days this was vas one of the satisfying times But just after the leisurely meal there was an Interruption A car came up the circuitous bit of roadway roadway roadway road road- way to the porch with the speed of familiarity Quentin's expression of at horrified expectation at which Victoria Victoria Vietoria Vic Vie toria had been laughing changed to toone toone one one of odd emb embarrassment of something something something some some- thing like faint annoyance like annoyance like gra gratification Its Marian Its It's Mrs Pool he had time to s-ay s say under his breath breaUl before he went out to welcome her Oh help Dora commented disgustedly Victoria said nothing But the glory the content of the day instantly were destroyed It was with a sense of dullness a vague feeling of hurt that she entered upon the requisite moving of chairs and shifting of ot places to make room for forthe the newcomer Marian Pool lovely in in the smartest of came into the room with a rush and stood with her head tipped a little on one side apologetically smiling at them all Oh youre having a party Oh how shameless of me she said But why on earth are you eating at past half four o'clock Sit down everyone do everyone do sit down Dr Upham here here everyone sit it down do They all sat down and Victoria saw the expression on Quentin Hardisty's Hardisty's Hardisty's Har- Har disty's face He saw nothing but Marian Were all driving up for supper at Mauds Maud's the newcomer said Ive dropped Sally and George inthe In Inthe Inthe the village to see the It occurred to me that Quentin here had entirely forgotten that he promIsed promised promised prom prom- to be at Mauds Maud's and I told them Id I'd come up and get him Its It's the golf gal thing Quentin and afterward afterward afterward after after- ward a big supper at Petes Sure I hadn't forgotten Quentin Quentin Quentin Quen Quen- tin said in a lazy smiling voice His eyes caressed her You did tell telle ifie xe e you had a house party I We didn't know it ranked as a ahouse ahouse ahouse house party did we Dora I beg pardon Dora stammered stammered stam stam- starting You dont don't remember me Mrs Pool Victoria said in the dreadful dreadful dreadful dread dread- ful moment of silence when everyone everyone everyone every every- one stirred and smiled but no one had anything to say Victoria Herrendeen Her- Her down down at the lodge years ago Oh frightful rightful dont don't remind me of of those ghastly days Mrs Pool said lightly her eyes on Quentin That was before all blushes and confusion I got my divorce I 1 crie cried l lall all day when I 1 was first married and danced all night when when I got my divorce I mean I 1 really did Quen The dullness the wearisome stu- stu of it all deepened Vie Vic from the moment her eyes had first fallen upon the visitor had known that tha t it would She is beat beautiful perfectly beautiful perfect perfectly y beautiful beau beau- Victoria said to Dora when they were gathering brushes and jars in the bathroom I dont don't see it Dora answered stubbornly and Victoria laughed without much mirth To deny MarIans MarIan's Marian's Marians Marians Marian's Mar Mar- ians ian's flawless and amazing beauty would be to deny the mystery of the stars the glory of an apple orchard in the spring It worked upon men like an irresistible anesthetic Vicky and the Uphams were vere swift and brief in their farewells The girl admitted she was tired the days day's happiness cooking tramping making fires h had d not tired her but there was no shred of the felicity left and she felt el jaded a and d weary The Mill Valley visit had ended in hurt and failure The drive home was dull and flat fiat and the atmosphere of the Keats nursery when Victoria entered it somehow jarred on her nerves Violet she said some days later later later lat lat- lat lat- er when she and Mrs Keats Keals were lunching together did Dr Keats talk to you about my going to Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Hono Hono- lulu You mean Miss Reynolds' Reynolds recommending recommending recommending rec rec- rec- rec you for it Its definite now Ive I've a letter here from rom Dr Bert about it A cloud came over the older woman's womans womans woman's wom worn ans an's face Vicky Id I'd be so sorry to see you go co Why would you Vi Well for the obvious reasons of course the cultured English voice said Because Mother depends so soon soon soon on you and we all do But it isn't only that Im I'm thinking of at you Girls do get so entirely out of touch In those places I know It My fa father father father fa- fa ther was at Barbados when I was a girl its it's much the same thing The life gets one its it's easy insular un un- un- un ambitious After a bit youre you're tellIng telling telling tell tell- ing visitors that youve you've been there ten years fifteen years In a few years theres there's no out VI V Im I'm going away on account of ot Quentin Hardisty Victoria said Mrs Keats was standing beside her at the window they did not look at each other there was a silence Ive got to get away before I make o a complete fool of myself myself- before he knows knows 1 Victoria presently pres pres- added You mean you you you-you you like him Violet Keats said in a stunned voice I guess that about expresses It Victoria said with a brief laugh The tiling thing happened quite simply about ten days later Victoria had taken Kate down do to Dr Hardisty's offices to have one of the younger men there look at a small sprained ined elbow He stood looking thoughtfully thoughtfully thoughtfully thought thought- fully at VIe Vic and the child for a aYou aYou Iri l AYou A I You Mean Without Loving Me |