Flash and Filigree by Terry Southern

Author:Terry Southern [Southern, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Literary, novel, Legal, Fiction
ISBN: 0802134300
Publisher: Open Road
Published: 1958-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter XII

BABS AND RALPH LEFT the Courtroom, in silence, a part of the milling crowd. On the steps of the Records Building, no longer holding hands, Ralph took the girl’s arm, pressing it gently, whereupon she edged away, raising her eyes with the quick look of a small friend betrayed.

“What’s the matter?” asked Ralph, letting his annoyance show. He should have been in the library, of course, studying for his examination.

When Babs didn’t answer, but instead allowed her preoccupation with bigger things be suggested, the boy at once became sulky and morose; so, at the bottom of the steps, Babs suddenly touched his sleeve, to detain him, while she looked anxiously around, as though she expected someone to be waiting.

“Listen. What is this Eichner to you, anyway?” asked Ralph, putting his hands on his hips. “A particular friend or something?”

Babs gave a start. “Who, Fred?” And she turned her blue eyes up on him like saucers of hope and confusion. “Why, no! Why?” She said it in such a way that he could not possibly have believed her—though, actually, it was true—and she gave him a long, inquiring look, shifting it from one part of his face to another, as if searching for a meaning beneath the words.

Ralph had seemed ready to say good-bye and turn on his heel. Now that she was looking at him though, he stood firm, and responded with an appreciative gaze of his own. Babs had raised one finger to her cheek and held it there in an attitude of studied curiosity.

“I don’t know,” said Ralph finally, looking hurt again and half turning away, “you seemed pretty interested.”

“Silly!” she cried, touching his arm and moving her head back with a little laugh.

“Well, let’s have a drink,” said Ralph, at a complete loss now, and too, as if looking at her made him thirsty.

“Coffee for me, thank you very much!” Babs said archly, and followed it with a knowing smile.

So they began to walk again, though this time, for the moment at least, Ralph carefully avoided touching her, even when they crossed the street. But at the opposite side, he put his hand on her elbow as they stepped up the curb.

“Thank you,” said Babs and gave him a mischievous smile, to show she knew perfectly well what he was up to.

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