“You would really like to do things for Gloria,” said Ruth.
“Yes; I’m awfully fond of her. She’s been my friend and has helped me ever since I first met her.”
“Then, please, can’t you persuade her to get rid of George?”
There was an intense appeal in Ruth’s voice that surprised Terry more than her request.
“Why? How would that help her?”
“I can’t explain it exactly. There are several reasons. One is that Gloria has been living quite beyond her income—I suppose I shouldn’t tell these things even to you, but I am worried about her and perhaps you can help—and she simply refuses to give up her big house because it serves as a refuge for professional people, friends of hers, out of an engagement. Of course all these people think that Gloria has unlimited means or they wouldn’t come. She won’t even let me help her, though I could quite easily. It’s because she really needs money that she’s gone to work in motion pictures. I imagine that George is an expensive servant and I thought if we could make her discharge him, she could get some one else for less money. Of course that wouldn’t make much difference in her expenses—I understand that—but it would be a start. It’s a lot of small economies that count, you know,” she said gravely.
“I had no idea that Gloria didn’t have lots of money. Her second husband was Darral Knight, a man who had made a fortune in toilet preparations. It was he who gave her the house on Gramercy Square. Then she married Brooks Grosvenor and he settled an income on her when they were divorced. I always supposed that it was ample. Certainly from what I’ve heard of the man he would have it fixed so that she could not get anything but the income, and even that would be forfeited if she married again.”
“The income isn’t large, not really large enough to afford such a big house, and Gloria has gone in debt a lot and now she’s working to pay it off. You see she’d have enough money if she would consent to live differently.”
“But Gloria is not the sort of person who will ever live differently. I have often wondered how she got by in such a big house with perpetual guests and only two servants, but I suppose she just didn’t want to bother with any more. But that isn’t the reason you want her to get rid of George, is it? It really wouldn’t make any appreciable difference, would it?”
“No—there are other reasons too, but I’m afraid to tell you.”