He opened a drawer, took out a dozen clippings. They read them together:
“Mrs. Magnelius Grandcourt announces the engagement of Eris Odell, granddaughter of the late Comtesse Jeanne d’Espremont, of Bayou d’Espremont, Louisiana, to Barry Annan, only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Grandcourt Annan, of New York.
“Miss Odell is the descendant of one of the oldest Royalist families of France,—her great grandfather coming to this country as a refugee during the Terror of ’93. Miss Odell’s grandmother, Comtesse Jeanne d’Espremont, and Mrs. Magnelius Grandcourt shared the same room at boarding school in Exmouth, Virginia.
“Miss Odell, who early in childhood evinced unusual artistic proclivities, had chosen the silent drama as a medium for self-expression, and is charmingly known to the artistically fastidious section of the nation’s public.
“But after the wedding, which will occur in June, Miss Odell has decided to retire from a career which promises such brilliant fulfilment.
“Mr. Annan served his country in the Great War as Liaison Officer and was decorated for gallantry in action.
“He is an author of repute and promise.”
After a silence: “That’s her work, Eris. I told you she’s a snob.”
The girl looked at him with a troubled smile: “It’s rather too late to do anything except live up to what she says of us—isn’t it, Barry?”
“You wonderful girl, you’ve already lived way beyond anything that anybody says of you.”