Read Online The Prodigal Girl by Grace Livingston Hill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Grace Livingston Hill
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Griswold boy was the one who had led Chris astray.
Having settled this matter and made up her mind to suggest this to Chester the first thing in the morning so that he would not blame Chris so severely, she turned to other troubles.
Chester. The doctor had said he was nervously run down and needed a change. The nerves around her heart gave sick, sore thrills of anxiety as she recalled the doctor’s warning. Assuredly it must be managed and at once. If only Chester would be reasonable and see the thing as it was.
It would be fine if he could take an ocean voyage. The Batemans were going on the Mediterranean trip. It would be great if Chester could go with them! Of course he would object to going without her, yet he would not want to leave the children alone, especially after what had happened tonight. And of course it would be cheaper for Chester to go alone. He might even balk at any expense on his own account, but expense was not to be considered where his health was at stake.
Poor Chester, he must have had an awful day at the office, worn to a thread! And he had been so hopeful in the morning! Probably that was the explanation of his being so excited over Betty and her affairs, and even the children at the table, and poor little Jane. Jane was only a child. She had sobbed herself to sleep. She hadn’t an idea she was doing anything wrong to show the boys her little school dance when they asked her, just a few of the college boys who had been friendly. But of course she must be made to understand that it wasn’t nice to have done what she did. She must give Jane more attention, let her invite her little friends home, and have parties, so that she wouldn’t be continually asking to go with the Carter child. Probably it was all the fault of the Carter girl. She was ill bred. She ought not to have allowed Jane to become so close till she had had time to get to know her mother. But she had been so busy! Those club meetings, and the child rearing class had been one straw too much. Yet it had seemed important to know the latest discoveries in child psychology.
Suddenly from out of the still darkness came her husband’s voice:
“Eleanor, are you awake?”
How did he know? She had not stirred. She was alert at once, a pang of fear at her heart.
“Yes, what is it? Do you feel worse?”
His voice sounded as if it came from far away, years ago; as if a great many things had happened since they last talked. He ignored her question as if it had not been.
“Eleanor, would it crush you entirely to give up our life here, in this house, in this town?”
He asked it anxiously, apprehensively, as if he knew he was asking a great thing and was sad for her to have to answer such a question.
Fear gripped her heart, and for an instant all speech left her. It had come, then! Chester had failed. In spite of his bright hopes, all was lost. They were going to be poor! Somehow she had never considered that possible. Poor Chester! How terribly he must feel!
Then her brave heart rose to the occasion, and she summoned a cheer that she was far from feeling.
“Why, of course not, Chester. I wouldn’t think of letting a thing like that crush me. If you are only well we can make a lark out of anything else. If that’s what you are worrying about, forget it and go to sleep. It’s really most important that you get your sleep. The doctor told me so. Now just put everything aside and try to relax. We’ll talk everything over tomorrow and fix up some nice plan.”
“You don’t understand, Eleanor,” he said, almost sternly. “This isn’t something that can be put off. We’ve got to act, at once. It is imperative! Eleanor, we’ve got to begin our life all over again! I haven’t told you everything—”
“Don’t try to, dear,” she said eagerly. “Just let it wait. I’m ready to do whatever you think best, of course, but you really must get some rest.”
“I can’t rest until this is settled,” he said decidedly.
Having settled this matter and made up her mind to suggest this to Chester the first thing in the morning so that he would not blame Chris so severely, she turned to other troubles.
Chester. The doctor had said he was nervously run down and needed a change. The nerves around her heart gave sick, sore thrills of anxiety as she recalled the doctor’s warning. Assuredly it must be managed and at once. If only Chester would be reasonable and see the thing as it was.
It would be fine if he could take an ocean voyage. The Batemans were going on the Mediterranean trip. It would be great if Chester could go with them! Of course he would object to going without her, yet he would not want to leave the children alone, especially after what had happened tonight. And of course it would be cheaper for Chester to go alone. He might even balk at any expense on his own account, but expense was not to be considered where his health was at stake.
Poor Chester, he must have had an awful day at the office, worn to a thread! And he had been so hopeful in the morning! Probably that was the explanation of his being so excited over Betty and her affairs, and even the children at the table, and poor little Jane. Jane was only a child. She had sobbed herself to sleep. She hadn’t an idea she was doing anything wrong to show the boys her little school dance when they asked her, just a few of the college boys who had been friendly. But of course she must be made to understand that it wasn’t nice to have done what she did. She must give Jane more attention, let her invite her little friends home, and have parties, so that she wouldn’t be continually asking to go with the Carter child. Probably it was all the fault of the Carter girl. She was ill bred. She ought not to have allowed Jane to become so close till she had had time to get to know her mother. But she had been so busy! Those club meetings, and the child rearing class had been one straw too much. Yet it had seemed important to know the latest discoveries in child psychology.
Suddenly from out of the still darkness came her husband’s voice:
“Eleanor, are you awake?”
How did he know? She had not stirred. She was alert at once, a pang of fear at her heart.
“Yes, what is it? Do you feel worse?”
His voice sounded as if it came from far away, years ago; as if a great many things had happened since they last talked. He ignored her question as if it had not been.
“Eleanor, would it crush you entirely to give up our life here, in this house, in this town?”
He asked it anxiously, apprehensively, as if he knew he was asking a great thing and was sad for her to have to answer such a question.
Fear gripped her heart, and for an instant all speech left her. It had come, then! Chester had failed. In spite of his bright hopes, all was lost. They were going to be poor! Somehow she had never considered that possible. Poor Chester! How terribly he must feel!
Then her brave heart rose to the occasion, and she summoned a cheer that she was far from feeling.
“Why, of course not, Chester. I wouldn’t think of letting a thing like that crush me. If you are only well we can make a lark out of anything else. If that’s what you are worrying about, forget it and go to sleep. It’s really most important that you get your sleep. The doctor told me so. Now just put everything aside and try to relax. We’ll talk everything over tomorrow and fix up some nice plan.”
“You don’t understand, Eleanor,” he said, almost sternly. “This isn’t something that can be put off. We’ve got to act, at once. It is imperative! Eleanor, we’ve got to begin our life all over again! I haven’t told you everything—”
“Don’t try to, dear,” she said eagerly. “Just let it wait. I’m ready to do whatever you think best, of course, but you really must get some rest.”
“I can’t rest until this is settled,” he said decidedly.
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