“I don’t think I’ll go,” announced Polly. “I can stay here with father. He told me yesterday he’d be delighted to have me, and if he can make himself comfortable with two servants and a caretaker I can.”
Mrs. Pleyden bent over the large box with an anxious line between her brows. It was seldom she came to an issue with her daughter.
“But—my dear—you would have a dull time. All the girls will have left shortly, either for Europe or the country—I dislike Europe since the war but if you’d like to go——”
“I shouldn’t.”
“Even before your friends left you couldn’t have parties. I don’t mean only in my absence but in that of the servants.”
“I’m sick of parties. I only want to be quiet for a while. Nothing very quiet about Atlantic City.”
“I am afraid, my dear, you have another reason. You want to be able to continue to see Dr. Pelham.”
“Well—what if I do? He’s the only man that interests me—makes me feel as if I had brains instead of jazz in my skull.”
“He’s an intellectual man, of course, and if he ever talks at all, no doubt what he says is illuminating. But aren’t you rather young for intellectual friendships? Better enjoy yourself while you are young and leave those until later. Besides, how about Park Leonard? I should think he was quite as clever as Dr. Pelham and a good deal more versatile. Certainly more your own sort.”
“I like him well enough but I happen to like Geoffrey Pelham better. He interests me and Park does not. Those things are not to be explained. Matter of spark, perhaps.”