you?”
“Oh yes, but I couldn’t let him go to all that trouble. In fact, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, anyway.”
“You weren’t sure you
wanted
to go! When Adrian Faber is the most eligible young man in the city and you’ve got him really interested! You must be
crazy!
I declare you certainly are ungrateful. Here I offer you a home and all its advantages and introduce you to the best people, and you treat the cream of the lot that way! Run off where you couldn’t get back in time for the most interesting social event of the season. I’m sure I don’t see why I should put myself out for you any longer when you act like that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Carolyn. I didn’t know you felt that way about this particular affair, or I would not have gone, of course. But you see, I didn’t realize that you cared so much. I know you have been most kind, and it was just because I wanted to arrange to relieve you of the burden of looking after me that I went away yesterday. I heard of a possible job, and I went to inquire about it. If I were permanently independent, earning my own living, I wouldn’t have to be such a burden on you. I could come and see you for a little visit now and then, but you wouldn’t feel so much responsibility for me. You’ve been sweet, I know, and I do appreciate what you’ve done—”
“Now look here, Laurel, that’s ridiculous! The idea of your getting a job! What would your father and mother say to that, I’d like to know? And just when you’re probably in a position to marry one of the richest and most eligible men we know. How utterly absurd! What was the matter? Did Adrian and you have a quarrel? Did you make him upset with your ridiculous idea that you won’t drink? It’s very silly for you to start in and try to make him over before you’re sure of him. After you’re married, that’s all well enough, but I’m telling you, Adrian has a mind of his own, and you
can’t
make over a man of the world. Certainly not until you are sure you have a good hold on him!”
“What on earth can you mean? I have no desire to have a hold on Adrian Faber, and I do
not
wish to marry him!” And suddenly as she spoke, Laurel knew that it was true! She did not wish to marry Adrian Faber. The knowledge came like a light in the dark and troubled sky of her mind, and she felt a sudden freedom, a great release from ideas that had been trying to get possession of her. Just since yesterday the horizon had cleared and she could read her future and know what she wanted it to be. Certainly what she did
not
want it to contain.
But her cousin stood there and gazed at her as if she had suddenly lost her mind.
“Are you
crazy?
Don’t you know he is
fabulously
wealthy? Don’t you know that if you married him you would never need to want for
anything
that you could not have?”
Laurel turned a bright face toward her infuriated relative. “Except one thing, Cousin Carolyn.”
“One thing. What do you mean?”
“Happiness.” There was a clear conviction in Laurel’s tone.
“Happiness! Why, you silly girl! Who wouldn’t be happy with all the money they wanted and a devoted husband to please your every whim?”
“I
wouldn’t, Cousin Carolyn! There’s something very essential that you have left out.”
“And what is that?”
“Love, Cousin Carolyn.”
“
Love!
You poor blind little goose! Don’t you know that he loves the very ground you walk on? He simply
worships
you. I’ve watched him when he looks at you. It’s as plain as the nose on your face. He loves you with all his heart!”
“Perhaps,” said Laurel serenely, “but you see, I don’t love
him!
And there can’t be any right kind of a marriage without love on both sides!”
“Fiddlesticks!” said Cousin Carolyn. “Who taught you a fallacy like that, I should like to know?”
“My mother,” said Laurel steadily, looking straight into her cousin’s eyes.
“Your
mother!”
gasped Cousin Carolyn. “Why, you
“Oh yes, but I couldn’t let him go to all that trouble. In fact, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, anyway.”
“You weren’t sure you
wanted
to go! When Adrian Faber is the most eligible young man in the city and you’ve got him really interested! You must be
crazy!
I declare you certainly are ungrateful. Here I offer you a home and all its advantages and introduce you to the best people, and you treat the cream of the lot that way! Run off where you couldn’t get back in time for the most interesting social event of the season. I’m sure I don’t see why I should put myself out for you any longer when you act like that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Carolyn. I didn’t know you felt that way about this particular affair, or I would not have gone, of course. But you see, I didn’t realize that you cared so much. I know you have been most kind, and it was just because I wanted to arrange to relieve you of the burden of looking after me that I went away yesterday. I heard of a possible job, and I went to inquire about it. If I were permanently independent, earning my own living, I wouldn’t have to be such a burden on you. I could come and see you for a little visit now and then, but you wouldn’t feel so much responsibility for me. You’ve been sweet, I know, and I do appreciate what you’ve done—”
“Now look here, Laurel, that’s ridiculous! The idea of your getting a job! What would your father and mother say to that, I’d like to know? And just when you’re probably in a position to marry one of the richest and most eligible men we know. How utterly absurd! What was the matter? Did Adrian and you have a quarrel? Did you make him upset with your ridiculous idea that you won’t drink? It’s very silly for you to start in and try to make him over before you’re sure of him. After you’re married, that’s all well enough, but I’m telling you, Adrian has a mind of his own, and you
can’t
make over a man of the world. Certainly not until you are sure you have a good hold on him!”
“What on earth can you mean? I have no desire to have a hold on Adrian Faber, and I do
not
wish to marry him!” And suddenly as she spoke, Laurel knew that it was true! She did not wish to marry Adrian Faber. The knowledge came like a light in the dark and troubled sky of her mind, and she felt a sudden freedom, a great release from ideas that had been trying to get possession of her. Just since yesterday the horizon had cleared and she could read her future and know what she wanted it to be. Certainly what she did
not
want it to contain.
But her cousin stood there and gazed at her as if she had suddenly lost her mind.
“Are you
crazy?
Don’t you know he is
fabulously
wealthy? Don’t you know that if you married him you would never need to want for
anything
that you could not have?”
Laurel turned a bright face toward her infuriated relative. “Except one thing, Cousin Carolyn.”
“One thing. What do you mean?”
“Happiness.” There was a clear conviction in Laurel’s tone.
“Happiness! Why, you silly girl! Who wouldn’t be happy with all the money they wanted and a devoted husband to please your every whim?”
“I
wouldn’t, Cousin Carolyn! There’s something very essential that you have left out.”
“And what is that?”
“Love, Cousin Carolyn.”
“
Love!
You poor blind little goose! Don’t you know that he loves the very ground you walk on? He simply
worships
you. I’ve watched him when he looks at you. It’s as plain as the nose on your face. He loves you with all his heart!”
“Perhaps,” said Laurel serenely, “but you see, I don’t love
him!
And there can’t be any right kind of a marriage without love on both sides!”
“Fiddlesticks!” said Cousin Carolyn. “Who taught you a fallacy like that, I should like to know?”
“My mother,” said Laurel steadily, looking straight into her cousin’s eyes.
“Your
mother!”
gasped Cousin Carolyn. “Why, you
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