Read Online Earth and High Heaven by Gwethalyn Graham - Free Book Online Page A

finished saying yourself, for a husband and children.”
    â€œYes?” said Erica. “Who, for example?”
    He blew out a cloud of smoke and as it drifted upwards he said, watching it, “René.”
    â€œRené! René’s not in love with me ...”
    â€œI’ve never been wrong yet about any of the men who’ve been in love with you.”
    â€œWell, you can always start.”
    He said unperturbably, “And I’d prefer rum and molasses to René.”
    â€œBut he doesn’t want to marry me!”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œWhy should he?”
    â€œI can think of a lot of reasons besides the fact that he’s in love with you ...”
    â€œNow, look, Charles,” said Erica. “René doesn’t approve of mixed marriages between French and English Canadians, particularly when the English Canadian is Protestant ...”
    â€œDon’t you believe it. He’s headed for politics — there’s even some talk of his running as Liberal candidate in the provincial by-elections next month ...”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œIn Saint-Cyr down in the Eastern Townships. Apparently his great-grandfather owned a mill there or something.”
    â€œHe’s never said anything about that ...”
    â€œHasn’t it occurred to you yet that René has a talent for never saying anything about anything — even to you? And he never will, either.”
    â€œReally, Charles,” said Erica, exasperated.
    She sat down on the arm of the chair again. “Have you got a cigarette?”
    He tossed her a package and when she had lit one, she said, “Anyhow, if René’s going to be a politician, he won’t have much use for a wife who’s one of the ultra-Protestant Drakes, will he?”
    â€œThat depends on whether he intends to end up in Quebec City or Ottawa. My guess is Ottawa. And if I’m right, then marrying you wouldn’t be at all a bad idea.”
    â€œI suppose you think René’s got all that figured out, too.”
    â€œObviously.”
    She blew three smoke rings, considered her father for a while with her tongue in her cheek, and finally observed in a detached tone, “You know, Charles, you have a very suspicious mind. No matter who it is, as soon as some poor man shows signs of wanting to invite me out to dinner, you start to think up a set of perfectly hideous motives. Rather unflattering, if you ask me. Who knows? Some day some poor deluded idiot might want to marry me just for the sake of my beaux yeux and then where would you be?”
    â€œI never had any objection to George — George — I’ve forgotten his last name. Anyhow, I never had any objections to him, did I?”
    â€œNo, but you knew damn well that I did.” She said reminiscently, “He was always making speeches about how pure he was ...”
    â€œNow, see here, Erica ...”
    â€œI know, Charles, I know.” She began to laugh and said, “Only really, you can overdo anything, even being pure. And his last name was Strickland.”
    â€œOh, yes, Strickland. Old John Strickland’s son. I wonder what’s become of him? Must be ten years since I last saw him ...” He paused, dismissed old John Strickland and back at René again, he said with a sudden change of tone, “I don’t want to see you end up as an old maid, Eric, but after what’s happened to Miriam’s marriage, and God only knows what will happen to Tony’s by the time this war’s over, I don’t want to see you making any mistakes. It’s no use my pretending that they mean as much to me as you do. They don’t. And if you married someone and then he let you down some way or other, I think I’d probably murder him. So far my children haven’t shown much talent for picking the right person.”
    â€œMimi was too young. And give Tony and Madeleine a chance; after all, they were