"You are too intence, Bab," she said solemly. "You suffer too much. You
are wearing yourself out."
"There is no other way," I replied in broken tones.
Jane went to the Mirror and looked at herself. Then she turned to me.
"Others don't do it."
"I must work out my own Salvation, Jane," I observed firmly. But she had
roused me from my apathy, and I went into Sis's room, returning with
a box of candy some one had sent her. "I must feel, Jane, or I cannot
write."
"Pooh! Loads of writers get fat on it. Why don't you try Comedy? It pays
well."
"Oh--MONEY!" I said, in a disgusted tone.
"Your FORTE, of course, is Love," she said. "Probably that's because
you've had so much experience." Owing to certain reasons it is generaly
supposed that I have experienced the gentle Passion. But not so, alas!
"Bab," Jane said, suddenly, "I have been your friend for a long time. I
have never betrayed you. You can trust me with your Life. Why don't you
tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"Somthing has happened. I see it in your eyes. No girl who is happy
and has not a tradgic story stays at home shut up at a messy desk when
everyone is out at the Club playing tennis. Don't talk to me about a
Career. A girl's Career is a man and nothing else. And especialy after
last winter, Bab. Is--is it the same one?"
Here I made my fatal error. I should have said at once that there was
no one, just as there had been no one last Winter. But she looked so
intence, sitting there, and after all, why should I not have an amorus
experience? I am not ugly, and can dance well, although inclined to lead
because of dansing with other girls all winter at school. So I lay back
on my pillow and stared at the ceiling.
"No. It is not the same man."
"What is he like? Bab, I'm so excited I can't sit still."
"It--it hurts to talk about him," I observed faintly.
Now I intended to let it go at that, and should have, had not Jane kept
on asking Questions. Because I had had a good lesson the winter before,
and did not intend to decieve again. And this I will say--I realy told
Jane Raleigh nothing. She jumped to her own conclusions. And as for her
people saying she cannot chum with me any more, I will only say this: If
Jane Raleigh smokes she did not learn it from me.