Once only had she been not a Ralston butherself;
once only had it seemed worth while. Nothing had ever been changed in the room
which, even as abride, she had planned to modernize.
Ralston felt that Charlotte was waiting for her to
speak. The difficulty was that,after that victory, nothing else seemed worth trying
for. Lucky enough for her, poor girl, considering her wretched health in heryouth:
Mrs.
Young men who make love to her and cant marry her.
She had meant to do it in pink and pale green,like an opening flower.
The change in her was too deep not to be visible.
It wasevident that the thought of the remedy had already relieved his pain. Im very
sorry that this should have happened to Tina. The story of thefoundling was another
queer episode in Charlottes history. Delia sprang up in her turn, flushed and
trembling. Personally, I find him very agreeable; I understand hisattraction for
Tina.
Even the vocabulary of renunciation, and its
conventional gestures, wereunfamiliar to him. Icouldnt bear to hurt him as much as
that. As thetear reached the narrowed lips they spoke.
The widow made a sign of assent, and Charlotte went
on: Its better so. Lucky enough for her, poor girl, considering her wretched health
in heryouth: Mrs. I am not aware thatthere is a queue at the door. Delia saw the
blood rise to Charlotte Lovells face.
Delia paused, not knowingwhat they must hope. Nor
do I disapprove of Lanning Halsey as ahusband. Ralston pushed aside her work and
thoughtfully considered hercousins sharply-lined face.
But hesitancy about aprofession may cause hesitancy
about.
But she neither undressed nor yet
seatedherself.
For a few moments she stood in the middle of the
floor, looking slowlyabout her.
Itsbecause I should be next to Tina, she said, in a
low voice that jarredlike an untuned string.
The bedroom, dim and close, smelt of eau de Cologne
and fresh linen.
Delia paused, not knowingwhat they must hope.
Charlotte seemed to have divined her thought. WhatLatmian solitude hid their
clandestine joys?