Affinities and Other Stories

him first. If mother and I were out, he played chess with father. If there was no one in, he was quite likely to range round the lower floor, a

came. I was

other had said. "I have seen enough débutantes looking

At six o'clock a box of flowers had come, but they were only from Henry and not exciting. "Thought I'd send

y for the book about the girl who always had her hand in the man's coat pocke

here was no one at home, but methin

" I said sharply.

stay a fe

ainly

don't

re in my ball gown. Besides, it had occurred to me that Henry could be useful if

e asked, talking to the fireplace. "Yo

eteen years getting ready, it sh

ll never see

oks like

be so

t sure, Henry. I'

hat, and almos

re-you're the loveliest thing t

r all. There was a sort of huskiness in his voice,

e other friends, of course. I hope so anyhow.

Kit! What are

at. But I'm not ignorant. And a

tand with my back to you, if you insist, but I'l

I meet a nice man people come to me with stories about him

a chair and let me fac

hear any one coming I can run. Anyhow, it m

Because, if-if you are, it's absurd nonsense. I'm no saint, and

nd his red hair looke

ou at all; it's a

oment to breath

bly nonsense too. You don't mean to say yo

an't have him here, or go round wi

nture to gi

Warri

the girls we both knew were crazy about Russell. And if he cared for me-and the way he acted made me suspicious-

maybe if you and I had anything to do with it we'd change things. But there is no comma

ien

tly-f

o have anything

him a chance to set things straight. Any how he and Mrs. Wa

say it is 'off' shows

ir. If I'd rehearsed him he couldn'

he said. "It's ridiculo

ng here explaining. I

tubborn child! Your mind's i

s down. I have

y eyes wide, "he will have to com

all." Then something struck his sense of humour and he chuckled. "It will be a new a

hen. It had been

e of the eleven get in some fine work. We declined everything that week, and I made some experiments with my hair and the aid of mother's maid. I wanted a sort of awfully feminine

man's coat pocket because she can't help it, and then tries

er with her foot up and the look of a dyspeptic martyr on her

d calmly. "Far be it from me not to contribute to

, referring to the movies of co

" she said. "She's been

t hair arrangement. She had it loose and wavy about her face, and it blew about

t I found my hand in Henry's coat poc

ly. "Don't do that unless yo

he way home in the motor o

uesday, and I wondered if mother noticed. She did.

ke married women. Earrings! It's absurd. And such earrings! I am quite sure," she went on, eying me, "that

nd dabbed my lips with cologne, so she got no

not doing much of anythin

nd you think my way not exactly ethical, I can't help it. This thing of sitting back and letting somebody f

eir younger sisters come out and crowd them, and at twenty-five or so begin to regard any man at all as a prospect. Maybe my methods sound a bit crude, but c