Romance Classics Read Online Free PDF Page B

living room.
    Mrs. Parker, very erect, neatly groomed as always, sat in a wing chair near the fire Tom had lighted. At sight of Geraldine she rose and threw her arms about the girl and kissed her eagerly.
    Geraldine was not prepared for one of the very few impulsive gestures she had ever experienced on Mrs. Parker’s part and, startled, she did not return the kiss. But Mrs. Parker kept her arms about the girl, drawing her down on the sofa, chattering eagerly, color high in her cheeks.
    “Oh, my dear, isn’t it the most wonderful news in the world? I can hardly make myself believe it, even yet. We’re going to have our darling boy back again — ” Her voice broke and she wept.
    Geraldine was dazed by this unwonted display of emotion. Mrs. Parker, who had always prided herself on her poise, who was never impulsive or excited!
    “We’re leaving for the coast at once, my dear,” Mrs. Parker went on, regaining some portion of her self-control, smiling with wet, anxious eyes at Geraldine. “We’re going to be there to welcome him. We must leave in the morning.”
    Beth and Tom exchanged an astonished glance.
    “Oh, not in the morning! I
can’t!”
    Momentarily Mrs. Parker’s eyes were hostile and she seemed a much more familiar Mrs. Parker.
    “If you’re thinking about
that man
, Geraldine!” she began frostily.
    Geraldine set her teeth hard. “Phil and I have said good-bye to each other,” she said.
    “Well, naturally,” answered Mrs. Parker. “Of course, Iknow you were only consoling yourself with this Donaldson person, because you were lonely and grieving. But Tip’s coming home, and there’s no longer any need for you to console yourself elsewhere.”
    Geraldine said evenly, “I was not consoling myself with Phil, Mrs. Parker. You might as well know the truth. I love Phil with all my heart.”
    Mrs. Parker caught her breath. Her eyes went wide, and her face was suddenly grayish, like old paper.
    “Nonsense! What are you saying? Geraldine, you’re Tip’s
wife!”
    “I shan’t forget it,” said Geraldine evenly.
    “You
are
breaking with this Donaldson person?”
    “Of course — what else could I do? I
am
Tip’s wife,” said Geraldine. Beth put one hand over her eyes and set her teeth hard against the little pitying sob that clutched at her throat.
    Mrs. Parker drew a deep breath and smiled uncertainly.
    “For a moment, I was terrified,” she admitted frankly. “I know how hard it is for a thoughtless young girl to remain loyal to a man who is far away. Out of sight, out of mind, I know. But of course, for you to turn on Tip now after all that he’s been through would be a monstrous thing.”
    There was a sternness in her tone, almost a suspicion in her eyes that flicked Geraldine on the raw.
    “I have no intention of turning on Tip,” she said evenly.
    “Of course not, my dear.” Mrs. Parker was almost cooing now, and her plump ringed hand patted Geraldine’s clenched fist gently. “Therefore, we will leave in the morning — ”
    “But, Mrs. Parker, it may be weeks before Tip is sent back to this country,” Tom protested.
    Mrs. Parker gave him a cool glance.
    “I quite realize that, Mr. Foster.” Her tone matched her glance. “But I also realize that it is not going to be at all pleasant for Geraldine here in town, waiting, with everybody knowing how nearly she married this Donaldson person. People are going to pry and gossip, and the most casual meeting between Geraldine and Mr. Donaldson will start a scandal that will be so easy to create, so difficult to kill.”
    “Oh, see here, now,” Tom’s voice had a distinct edge, “I think you can trust Gerry and Phil not to behave in a manner to create a scandal.”
    “My dear Mr. Foster,” said Mrs. Parker icily, “the only way not to create a scandal is for one of them to leave town before Tip returns. The change will do Gerry good and I’m sure she’d be happier to be out of town until people get over discussing Tip’s