With the Cummings’s episode and its very obvious lesson still playing through her thoughts Grace eagerly welcomed Irene’s praise of Trenton, feeling the need of just the assurances her friend was giving her as to his fine qualities, which attained a new dignity in view of Kemp’s inconstancy.
“Ward’s perfectly splendid,” Irene continued as though fearing she hadn’t done Trenton full justice. “I’ve never had any illusions about Tommy; I always knew I’d have to pass him up some day. But don’t let me shake your faith in dear old Ward. He won’t lie to you; he’d tell the truth if it ruined him.”
“You really think that?” asked Grace with a slight quaver in her voice which the watchful Irene did not miss.
“Of course I think it! But with two people as intense in your different ways as you and Ward, you’re likely to hurt each other terribly. I’ve been awfully careful what I’ve said to you, Grace, about—well—about going the limit with Ward. But I can see you’re not just throwing yourself at his head. And Ward, if I know him, is not going to expect you to.”
“Oh, he’s fine!” said Grace, averting her eyes. “No one could be finer, but——”
“Yes, my dear; there’s that but we always bring up against! I won’t say a word about Tommy and me. Of course I never loved Tommy but I thought he was a good fellow and on the level; and it was exciting while it lasted. That’s what catches a lot of girls who go in for such little affairs as mine with Tommy. It’s the excitement of doing something they know’s dead wrong and bound to end in a smash-up.”
As Grace was eating little and seemed dispirited, Irene recurred to Trenton.
“Ward would never be satisfied just to play around with a girl, knowing that whenever he got tired he’d chuck her and pick up another. I’m saying this because I know he fell for you hard that very first night you met; it was a clear case of love at first sight with you two. I’m not just kidding you; you know as well as I do you’re different from other girls. You’ve got brains and poise. Not that you weren’t always a lot of fun and a good pal,—I never knew a girl who was as much fun to play with. But you’ve always kept your self-respect and held your head high. Ward likes that in you because he’s that sort himself.”
“I wish I could believe you’re right but, Irene, sometimes I don’t feel I know myself at all! When I quit college I was full of self-conceit and thought I had a strong grip on myself. I was going to test out life—find out everything in my own way. But there are times when I get scared. I thought it would be fun to drift along for awhile, just trying myself out and I was sure I could stop whenever I pleased and settle on something. But I’m not doing it! What’s the matter with me anyhow?” she demanded mournfully.
“You’re in love! Don’t you think I haven’t been watching the awful symptoms. You’ve got a real case!”