The Evening Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

whether marriage to Trevor, considered as a whole, would have increased or decreased her life’s load of misfortune.
    She would have been the first to admit that her life’s load of misfortune had been far lighter than the load many, perhaps most, humans sustained; nonetheless, hers weighed quite enough. Trevor had been both charming and devoted, but, as his six marriages and innumerable romances suggested, he had not been noted for his willingness to shoulder anyone’s load for very long. He far preferred to bob about on the seven seas, putting into port now and then in order to indulge in heavy meals and light seductions.
    Still, Aurora missed Trevor, and the fact that he would never be showing up again to buy her any of the heavy meals, or attempt any of the light seductions, did nothing to lighten her tread as she pulled herself upstairs.
    General Hector Scott, on his crutches, met her at the head of the stairs. To her surprise she saw that he was actually dressed. He wore a clean shirt and his bright red bow tie. For a second, Aurora was hit by an intense feeling of déjà vu; was this not a moment that had occurred long ago at the head of her stairs?
    “My goodness, Hector, you’re up,” she said. “You’re dressed. I believe you’ve even shaved. “I’m witnessing a miracle.”
    “It’s no miracle,” the General said. “I’m sick of feeling oldand ugly. I’m trying to reform. I decided to start my reform by getting dressed. How was Tommy?”
    “Oh, Hector,” Aurora said, and before she knew it she was crying again. Every thought of Tommy brought it on. The General spread his crutches and took her into his arms for what proved to be a short cry.
    “I mustn’t mess your shirt, now that you’re wearing one,” Aurora said, resting her wet cheek against it anyway.
    “My shirt’s expendable,” the General said. “I know how you get when you go see Tommy. I thought I’d make a special effort. Did he seem all right?”
    “No, he just seemed the same,” Aurora said. “He’s always the same. It makes me want to shake him. I’m afraid though, that even if I shook him, Tommy would be the same. Nothing anyone can do affects him at all.”
    She drew back and looked at the General. Despite his improved appearance, he seemed subdued.
    “Hector, you look quite wonderful,” she said. “Still, you don’t seem to be quite yourself.”
    “No, I’m usually cranky,” the General said. “Tonight I’m not cranky. I’m making a special effort.”
    “Ordinarily I would consider that a good sign,” Aurora said, wondering why she didn’t consider it an especially good sign.
    “Of course it’s a good sign,” the General said.
    “I can’t quite convince myself that it is,” Aurora said. “I’m not sure that it’s good that you’ve decided to restrain your strong preference for being cranky. What if it brought on a stroke?”
    “It won’t bring on a stroke,” the General said. He wanted rewards, not questions, but he was getting questions, and it was all he could do not to slip back into his normal cranky state.
    “I don’t want to be packed off, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I decided to clean up so maybe you’ll let me stay. I also decided to stop being cranky. I don’t want to go to the old soldiers’ home. I wouldn’t last a year in one of those places. I’d miss you so much I’d just die.”

    Aurora was struck to the quick.
    “Now you’ve spoiled the one nice moment of the day,” she said, abruptly drawing back. “Do I appear to be the sort of woman who would simply pack off my companion after putting up with him for twenty years?”
    “Well, I can tell you’re thinking about it,” the General said. “You as much as suggested it, just the other day. I’ve got my pride, you know. I don’t want to stay where I’m not wanted.”
    “Pride such as yours goeth before a punch in the nose—or it should,” Aurora said, getting angrier. “I only once mentioned a