You are a very brilliant young man, but you are not
omnipotent--you require stiffening, like a collar. And I would be a
splendid laundress for you. Harriet is a long shot too lenient. I might
not be so comfortable to live with, but I'd be bracing. I'd have you in
that dirty little superintendent's box in no time."
He made no reply; and, obviously tormented, automatically squeezed a
half orange into his goblet. Then he took a sip of brandy.
"Together, James," Mariana asserted, "we would go up like a kite. By
yourself--forgive me--you haven't enough patience, enough balance; you
wouldn't fly steadily. You might break all your sticks on the ground."
He moodily emptied what remained of his brandy into the goblet and
orange juice, and pushed it impatiently away. "I'd rather do that," he
answered, "than try to carry you with me on such a flight."
Howat Penny was conscious of a diminution of his fears. He had entirely
underrated James Polder; the latter was an immense sight steadier than
Mariana. His thoughts strayed momentarily to Harriet, back again in her
public orbit. He could imagine that she had found Harrisburg insuperably
dull, the hours with only Cherette empty after the emotional debauches
of the plays elected by Vivian Blane.
Pages:
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402