Part 34 (1/2)

”I want to talk with you about it. I haven't decided yet, and I don't want to leave you, but there're so many things to think about.”

Hertha's voice was plaintive, for she was almost in tears.

”I suppose it's that long-legged southern chap. Well, if it's a man trying to get you away, there's no hope for me. But how you can like that thin-nosed, sallow-faced son of a snuff-dipping mother is beyond me.”

Kathleen did not see Hertha's flushed cheeks, but she felt her silent protest. Remembering the words of the Major, the call of youth and springtime, she went back and again seated herself by Hertha's side.

”It's a shame they should be calling me out to-night and you and me needing a long talk together. But that's my life and perhaps it's lonely here for a young girl like you.”

”I am lonely,” Hertha declared, ”when you are away.”

It was the first time she had confessed to her dislike to be so much by herself. And while she said it she knew that though she might be timid at being alone she minded more being unable ever to get away from people. If she went to a boarding-house, perhaps she would never be really alone. The memory of the Merryvale household and its paying guests came back to her, and she tried to recall whether the northern women who stopped there were able to secure the privacy that she craved.

”With the summer, dear,” Kathleen was saying, ”I'm not likely to be away so much and there's many good times we could have together. Away to the country, perhaps, for a Sunday, or down at the beach where the waves knock you off your feet one second and pound the breath out of you the next.”

Hertha gave a little rueful laugh. ”That must be jolly,” she a.s.sented.

”And as for business schools that will fit you for a job in two months or two days, according to the cash you've got, there's as many of them in New York, I'll be bound, as in Brooklyn. You don't have to cross the river to go to school.”

”No.”

”I asked Billy to bring one of the fellows who works where he does around with him next Sunday. He's a nice little chap, though he doesn't know a mockingbird from a jack rabbit.”

”I don't have to have young men around. I'm not going because of d.i.c.k Brown.”

”Oh, so it's settled then. Well, I wish you good-by.”

The Irish girl rose and stood stiffly by the bed.

”It isn't settled,” Hertha cried, ”I can't settle things quickly. Oh, I do wish everything wasn't so difficult.”

”I must be going,” said Kathleen. ”Good-night.”

Hertha dragged her friend toward her and threw her arms about her neck.

”If I do go to Brooklyn,” she said, ”I can still see you sometimes, and you'll come to see me.”

”There was a New York man once, Hertha, and he had two daughters, one lived in Australia and one in Brooklyn, and he made one visit in his life to each.”

”That's silly!”

”Perhaps. But it's a big city, and if you leave here and go to foreign parts of it, I'm afraid it's good-by.”

”Well, it isn't good-by for me, wherever I go.” Hertha kissed her friend and held her close. ”It's never going to be good-by like that. I love you, Kathleen.”

The older woman returned the embrace. ”Play with your mates!” she heard in her ears. ”Grasp whatever of happiness you can.”