Silver Slippers by Temple Bailey

Author:Temple Bailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, romance
Publisher: Distributed Proofreaders Canada
Published: 1928-05-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

THE INTRUDER

Joan, on the night of the funeral, in Adelaide’s place at the head of the table, was aware that in the eyes of the major portion of her guests she was an intruder. Just before dinner, the will had been read, and the assembled relatives had learned she was heiress to her aunt’s estate. While it was not unexpected, they had felt, almost without exception, a sense of resentment. Joan was, perhaps, the logical legatee, but it seemed a bit absurd, that this child with her short skirts and her modish bun of dark hair at the back of her head, should be taking precedence of them all.

The exception to those who resented it, was one of Adelaide’s own cousins. She remembered Adelaide as a loving little girl. She remembered her before the days of her marriage and of the display of creamy shoulders. She remembered her when the two of them had dreamed together, and because of these dreams, the little old lady said to Joan: “I know why she left everything to you, my dear. She wanted to live in your heart as she lives in mine. None of the rest of them have hearts to live in.”

And Joan, looking into the faded eyes had said, “I am sorry I didn’t know how much she loved me. I might have been kinder.”

“You were kind enough, child. In these later years she shut herself up in a shell of selfishness. But that was not the real Adelaide. The real one was the girl I knew.”

The Hallams were dining with the rest of them, and they were to spend the night in the big house. Nancy had asked, casually, “Have you room for us, Joan?”

“Of course.”

“Then we’ll stay here if you don’t mind.”

Joan and Drew had had a moment alone on their return from the funeral, and he had said, looking down at her as she stood with averted eyes, “Haven’t you forgiven me?”

“Please, let’s not talk about it, Drew.”

He had tried to take her hand, but with a very definite gesture of refusal, she had stepped back.

“Are you as hard as that, my sweet?”

Tears had filled her eyes. “I am not hard . . . but you hurt me dreadfully. And Aunt Adelaide’s death makes everything different.”

Other people had arrived just then, and there had been no further opportunity for private conversation. Yet now at dinner, Joan had to admit she was glad Drew and Nancy were with her. Their presence saved her from a sense of utter desolation. Penelope had elected to eat upstairs. “I shall be much happier, my dear, than with that bunch of stiff-necks.”

“But after this, Penelope, you’re not to stay away.”

“As you please, but tonight I’d rather.”

Nancy’s russet head shone brightly amid the gray coiffures and shining baldness of the elderly guests. She and Drew, expertly and pleasantly, helped Joan carry the dinner through successfully, so that she had a sense of gratitude and coöperation, as if the three of them were divided against the hostility of the others.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.