She sighed, and going to her desk, took out of it the letter which she
had received in the morning mail.
She knew that the moment that she announced the contents of that letter
would be a dramatic one. Even if she did it quietly, it would have the
effect of a bomb thrown into the midst of a peaceful circle. She had a
fancy that it would be best to tell Porter first. He was to come back
to dinner, so she dressed and went down early.
He found her in the garden. There were double rows of hyacinths in the
paths now, with tulips coming up between, and beyond the fountain was
an amethyst sky where the young moon showed.
She rose to greet him, her hands full of fragrant blossoms.
He held her hand tightly. "How happy you look, Mary."
"I am happy."
"Because I'm here? If you could only say that once truthfully."
"It is always good to have you," "But you won't tell a lie, and say you're happier, because of my
coming? Oh, Contrary Mary!"
She shook her head. "If I said nice things to you, you'd
misunderstand."
"Perhaps. But why this radiance?"
"Good news."
"From whom?"
"A man."
"What man?" with rising jealousy.
"One who has given me the thing I want."
He was plainly puzzled.
"I don't know what you mean."
"A letter came this morning--a lovely letter in a long envelope."
She took a paper out of a magazine which lay on the stone bench by her
side. "Read that," she said.
He read and his face went perfectly white, so that it showed chalkily
beneath his red hair.
"Mary," he said, "what have you done this for? You know I'm not going
to let you."
"You haven't anything to do with it."
"But I have. It is ridiculous. You don't know what you are doing.
You've never been tied to an office desk--you've never fought and
struggled with the world."
"Neither have you, Porter."
"Well, if I haven't, is it my fault?" he demanded, "I was born into the
world with this millstone of money around my neck, and a red head. Dad
sent me to school and to college, and he set me up in business. There
wasn't anything left for me to do but to keep straight, and I've done
that for you."