"What did you expect then?Merely to be disagreeable?I hope you may be as successful in worthier undertakings.Now listen.Some of the plans you have suggested at various times might be sensible if you were a plain girl.Your beauty is as tangible an asset as money would be;but beauty requires money.You must have it.Your poor father might have left it to you,but he didn't;so you will marry it--not unsuitably,"meeting an ominous look in her child's eyes,"not without love or under any circumstances to make a martyr of you,but according to common sense;and as a certain young man is evidently more and more certain of himself every time he comes"--she paused.
"You think there is no need for him to grow more certain of me?"asked Eloise.
"You might have saved us the disagreeables of this interview.And one thing more,"impressively,"you evidently are not taking into consideration,perhaps you never knew,that it was your grandfather's confidence in a certain course which induced your poor father to take that last fatal flyer.Your grandfather feels--I'm sure he feels--that much reparation is due us.The present conditions are easier for him than a separate suitable home would be,therefore"--Mrs.Evringham waved her hand."It is strange,"she added,"that so young a girl should not repose more trust in her mother's judgment.And now that we are on the subject,I wish you would make more effort with your grandfather.Don't be so silent at table and leave all the talking to me.A man of his age likes to have merry young people about.Chat,create a cheerful atmosphere.He likes to look at you,of course,but you have been so quiet and lackadaisical of late,it is enough to hurt his feelings as host.""He has never shown any symptoms of anxiety,"remarked Eloise.
"Well,he is a very self-contained man."
"He is indeed,poor grandfather;I don't know how you will manage,mother,when you have to play the game of 'pretend'all alone.He is growing tired of it,I can see.His courtesy is wearing very thin.I'm sorry to make it harder for you by taking away what must have been a large prop and support,but I heard papa say to himself more than once in those last sad days,'If I had only taken my father's advice.'""Eloise,"very earnestly,"you misunderstood,you certainly misunderstood."The girl shook her head wearily."No,alas!I neither misunderstand nor forget,when it would be most convenient to do so."Mrs.Evringham's fair brow contracted as she regarded her daughter with exasperation."And you are only nineteen!One would think it was you instead of me to whom the next birthday would bring that detested forty."The girl looked at her mother,whose youthful face and figure betrayed the source of her own heritage of physical charm.