Read Online The Hesitant Hero by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gilbert Morris
Ads: Link
deal of tact, and I’m afraid my daughter is the same way.”
“I believe you’re right—I mean about letting someone else’s opinion determine my future—but on the other hand, some people who think they have talent are mistaken.” He herded some peas onto his fork. “What I had on my mind in coming here, aside from seeing you again, Jolie, was to rent a little place and try to see if I have any talent at all—and the determination to make it as an artist.”
“Why, that’s a fine idea,” Jolie said, leaning forward, her eyes fixed on Tyler. “I had the impression your life was . . . shall I say cluttered in New York?”
“You’re right about that. Cluttered about describes it. I thought it might help me to come here and do nothing butpaint. Perhaps you could advise me about a place to live. It doesn’t have to be much. Just a place to sleep.”
“I’m sure we can find something. But tonight you must stay here in the guest room.”
Tyler shook his head. “I won’t argue with you, but tomorrow I’ll make a new start.”
“I think it would be good for you,” Marvel said. “I know little about painting, but Jolie here, she loves it. She can tell you when your work is good or bad.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that, Maman,” Jolie protested.
“Why, of course you could.”
Jolie laughed. “I think Tyler knows enough about my directness to believe that I’d be willing to do that. But this is a bad time of the year for painters. Many come here, but most come in the springtime.”
“Well, I expected to be painting inside at the art institute, but now maybe I’ll learn to paint winter things.”
“It’s very beautiful here, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. The mountains are beautiful in every season, and the river sometimes freezes over,” Jolie told him. “You should have plenty of subjects for your paintings.”
The conversation flowed easily as they finished their meal, and afterward Jolie took Tyler into the parlor. Marvel joined them after the dishes were done and they talked for some time.
Naturally the discussion turned to the war, and Tyler repeated the words of the old soldier he had encountered on the train. “He seemed very positive that the Germans would come, but I’m not sure,” Tyler said.
“The journalists are calling it the Phony War,” Marvel said, “but they are wrong. The Germans are just waiting until spring. Then they will come.”
“And what will you do then, Madame Vernay?”
“I will survive.”
“Yes, I believe you will.”
“Long ago I put my life in God’s hands. Now whatever happens, it will be the will of God.”
“You sound like my parents. They believe the same thing—and I wish I’d listened to them more while I was at home.”
“You’re not too old,” Marvel said with a smile. “God is always faithful, and you need to learn that lesson well.”
Tyler admired the woman’s determination. He saw the same beauty in Jolie’s mother that he found in her and the same strength and determination. “I don’t know much about politics,” he said finally.
“I expect all of us will learn about life whether we know politics or not. I remember how hard it was in the Great War.” Marvel was silent for a moment and then said, “Well, it’s in God’s hands. You must be tired. I will prepare your room.”
As soon as Marvel left the room, Jolie’s eyes sparkled. “You’re being told to go to bed, Tyler. Maman’s like that. Very firm.”
“I see she is,” he said. “I like her. She’s very much like you—very attractive and very strong.”
“Thank you, Tyler. That’s a nice thing to say.”
Marvel came back and announced that his room was ready, and Tyler left at once. As soon as he was gone, Marvel looked at her daughter with a question in her eye. “Well, what are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“About what! About your guest.”
“He’s our guest, Maman.”
“Don’t be foolish! He didn’t come to see me. You know
“I believe you’re right—I mean about letting someone else’s opinion determine my future—but on the other hand, some people who think they have talent are mistaken.” He herded some peas onto his fork. “What I had on my mind in coming here, aside from seeing you again, Jolie, was to rent a little place and try to see if I have any talent at all—and the determination to make it as an artist.”
“Why, that’s a fine idea,” Jolie said, leaning forward, her eyes fixed on Tyler. “I had the impression your life was . . . shall I say cluttered in New York?”
“You’re right about that. Cluttered about describes it. I thought it might help me to come here and do nothing butpaint. Perhaps you could advise me about a place to live. It doesn’t have to be much. Just a place to sleep.”
“I’m sure we can find something. But tonight you must stay here in the guest room.”
Tyler shook his head. “I won’t argue with you, but tomorrow I’ll make a new start.”
“I think it would be good for you,” Marvel said. “I know little about painting, but Jolie here, she loves it. She can tell you when your work is good or bad.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that, Maman,” Jolie protested.
“Why, of course you could.”
Jolie laughed. “I think Tyler knows enough about my directness to believe that I’d be willing to do that. But this is a bad time of the year for painters. Many come here, but most come in the springtime.”
“Well, I expected to be painting inside at the art institute, but now maybe I’ll learn to paint winter things.”
“It’s very beautiful here, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. The mountains are beautiful in every season, and the river sometimes freezes over,” Jolie told him. “You should have plenty of subjects for your paintings.”
The conversation flowed easily as they finished their meal, and afterward Jolie took Tyler into the parlor. Marvel joined them after the dishes were done and they talked for some time.
Naturally the discussion turned to the war, and Tyler repeated the words of the old soldier he had encountered on the train. “He seemed very positive that the Germans would come, but I’m not sure,” Tyler said.
“The journalists are calling it the Phony War,” Marvel said, “but they are wrong. The Germans are just waiting until spring. Then they will come.”
“And what will you do then, Madame Vernay?”
“I will survive.”
“Yes, I believe you will.”
“Long ago I put my life in God’s hands. Now whatever happens, it will be the will of God.”
“You sound like my parents. They believe the same thing—and I wish I’d listened to them more while I was at home.”
“You’re not too old,” Marvel said with a smile. “God is always faithful, and you need to learn that lesson well.”
Tyler admired the woman’s determination. He saw the same beauty in Jolie’s mother that he found in her and the same strength and determination. “I don’t know much about politics,” he said finally.
“I expect all of us will learn about life whether we know politics or not. I remember how hard it was in the Great War.” Marvel was silent for a moment and then said, “Well, it’s in God’s hands. You must be tired. I will prepare your room.”
As soon as Marvel left the room, Jolie’s eyes sparkled. “You’re being told to go to bed, Tyler. Maman’s like that. Very firm.”
“I see she is,” he said. “I like her. She’s very much like you—very attractive and very strong.”
“Thank you, Tyler. That’s a nice thing to say.”
Marvel came back and announced that his room was ready, and Tyler left at once. As soon as he was gone, Marvel looked at her daughter with a question in her eye. “Well, what are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“About what! About your guest.”
“He’s our guest, Maman.”
“Don’t be foolish! He didn’t come to see me. You know
Similar Books
