A little pang shot through Lydia's heart. But she was saved a reply by
Elviry, who as usual was within earshot.
"Kent Moulton doesn't amount to anything. His father's got nothing but a salary. Gustus'll have the brewery."
"Well, who wants to marry a brewery," sniffed Margery. "If you think I'm going to have any old bossy, beery German like Gustus'll be, you're mistaken. Kent comes of fine Puritan stock."
"Your ancestors don't pay the bills," said Elviry, sharply. "If your father has that extra money he's expecting at Christmas time, you'll just go East to boarding-school, Margery."
"I don't want to go," protested Margery. "I love High School."
"Makes no difference. You have common tastes, just like your father.
I want you should have refined tastes in your friends particularly."
And Dave must have received his extra money, for after the Christmas holidays, Margery tearfully departed for the Eastern finishing school. The night after her departure, Kent made his first call on Lydia in many months. The two withdrew to the kitchen to make candy and there Lydia's surprise and pleasure gave way to suspicion. Kent seemed to want to talk for the most part about Margery!
"Hasn't she grown to be a beauty," he said, beating the fudge briskly.
"She always was beautiful," replied Lydia, who was cracking walnuts. "Didn't we use to hate her though! Well, she was the whiniest little snip!"
"Oh, that was her mother's fault! The only good thing about this boarding-school deal is that it gets her away from Elviry Marshall. Put more nuts in here, Lyd. You like her now, don't you?"