An Air That Kills Read Online Free PDF

im­moral.”
    â€œDon’t preach at me. Words aren’t going to change any­thing.”
    â€œWell, for God’s sake, consider Harry. This will kill him.”
    â€œI don’t think so. Oh, he’ll be upset for a while, but even­tually he’ll meet some nice clinging-vine sort of woman who’ll let him fuss over her and pour pills down her throat.”
    Turee was shocked. “You sound as if you actually hate him.”
    â€œNo. Just the pills. He was making an invalid out of me. I’m really quite strong. The doctor says I should have a fine, healthy baby. It’s what I’ve wanted all my life. I was an only child living with a maiden aunt, and terribly lonely. I used to dream of growing up and getting married and having a dozen children so I’d never be lonely again.”
    â€œYou may,” he said heavily, “be lonelier than ever. People around here take a dim view of . . .”
    â€œOh, people. I don’t care about them. All I need is Ron and the baby.”
    â€œYou’re pretty sure of yourself, Thelma.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you equally sure of Ron?”
    â€œYes. I told him about the baby tonight when he came over to pick up Harry. It seemed the right time to tell him.”
    Turee wasn’t certain he agreed with her. “How did he take the news?”
    She said defensively, “Naturally I didn’t expect him to be deliriously happy about it right at first. He needs time to think, to adjust to the situation. Any man would.”
    â€œI’m glad you realize that,” Turee said dryly.
    â€œHe loves me, that’s the important factor.”
    â€œIs it?”
    â€œDon’t worry, everything will work out fine. I have a feel­ing.”
    Thelma’s was a contradictory nature. This new feeling, that everything would work out fine, immediately eclipsed the old feeling that something had happened to Ron. Thelma could, in fact, superimpose one feeling on another feeling, like bricks, and it was always the latest, the top one, that was valid.
    She added, “Oh, I know it’s going to be messy in some ways, the divorce, for instance.”
    â€œRon can’t get a divorce from Esther. He has no grounds.”
    â€œI meant, Ron will pay her off and she can get the divorce.”
    â€œSuppose she refuses?”
    â€œOh nonsense. Esther loves money. Besides, why should she refuse?”
    â€œSome women,” Turee said with heavy irony, “aren’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of breaking up their home and family.”
    â€œDon’t sentimentalize Esther. I haven’t done anything more to her than she did to Ron’s first wife. Except that my motives are cleaner.”
    â€œHow does Ron like the idea of going through the courts and the newspapers again as an adulterer?”
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake, can’t you say something cheerful?”
    â€œI can’t think of anything cheerful,” Turee said truthfully. “This isn’t the type of situation that appeals to my sense of humor. Maybe Harry will be able to think of something cheerful. He’s still outside on the veranda. Shall I call him?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œHow are you going to tell him, Thelma?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’ve tried, I’ve led up to it, but—oh, it’s all so difficult.”
    â€œYou should have thought of that when you and Ron were hopping into bed together.”
    â€œWhat a terribly coarse remark!”
    â€œThe situation isn’t exactly genteel either.”
    â€œListen, Ralph. About telling Harry. I was wondering, you’re such a good friend of his . . .”
    â€œKindly leave me out of it.”
    â€œI only thought, you can be so tactful when you choose . . .”
    â€œOn this occasion, I don’t choose.”
    â€œVery well. But I won’t tell him. I can’t. I don’t even want to see him