We are to motor up."
"Can't I go with you?"
"I think--Daddy wants me to himself. You won't mind, Derry--some day
you'll have me all the time."
"But I need you now, dearest."
"Do you really," delightedly. "It doesn't seem as if you could--"
"If you knew how much."
She could not know. He hung up the receiver. The day stretched out
before him, blank.
But it passed, of course. And Hilda, having slept her allotted number
of hours, was up in time to superintend the serving of the General's
dinner. Later, Derry stopped at the door to say that he was going to
the theater and might be called there. The General, propped against
his pillows and clothed in a gorgeous mandarin coat, looked wrinkled
and old. The ruddiness had faded from his cheeks, and he was much
thinner.
Hilda, sitting by the little table, showed all the contrast of youth
and bloom. Her long hands lay flat on the table. Derry had a
fantastic feeling, as if a white cat watched him under the lamp.
"Are you going alone, son?" the General asked.
"Yes."
"Why don't you take a girl?" craftily.
Derry smiled.
"The only girl I should care to take is out of town.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233