"Mrs. Frost, if you were a dog would you rather have your tail cut off
all at once, or little by little?" said Mrs. Gibson mischievously.
"I shouldn't like to have it cut off at all I'm quite sure," said Mrs.
Frost frostily.
"Well, perhaps Mrs. Carter might feel that way too," said the lady
bending over a rose geranium and pinching a leaf to smell.
"I don't understand you," said Mrs. Frost from her coffee cup, "Oh, you
mean that perhaps Mark may not be convicted? Why, my dear lady, there
isn't a chance at all, not a chance in the world for Mark, and while
I'm real sorry I can't say I'd approve. Think of how he's carried on,
going with that little huzzy of a Cherry. Mrs. Harricutt says she saw
him have her out riding in his automobile one day--!"
"Oh,--Mrs. Harricutt!" said Mrs. Gibson impatiently, "Mrs.
Frost, let's find something pleasanter to talk about. It's a wonderful
morning. The air's like wine. I wonder If I couldn't take a little
walk. I mean to ask the doctor."
"My dear woman," said Frost patronizingly, "You can't get away from the
unpleasant things in this world by just not talking about them!"
"It seems not," said the Gibson lady patiently, and wandered out on the
porch.
Down the street Marilyn lingered by her mother's chair: "Are you--going to Economy to-day, mother?"
"Yes, dear, your father and I are both going. Did you--think you
ought--wanted to--go dear?"
"Oh, I should hate it!" cried Lynn flinging out her hands with a
terrible little gesture of despair, "But I wanted to go just to stand
by Mark. I shall be there anyway, wherever I am, I shall see everything
and feel everything in my heart I know. But in the night it came to me
that some one ought to stay with Mrs. Carter!"
"Yes, dear! I had hoped you would think of that. I didn't want to
mention it because I wanted you to follow your own heart's leading, but
I think she needs you. If you could keep her from finding out until it
was over--"
"But suppose--!"
"Yes, dear, it is possible. I've thought of that, and if it comes there
will be a way I'm sure, but until it does--then suppose--"
"Yes, mother, I'll go and make her have one happy day first anyway." If
any of those old vultures come around I'll play the piano or scream all
the while they are there and keep them from telling her a thing!"