“Of course not. Only one woman couldn’t ever wear them all, could she?”
“She might.” Again he was pleased by her lack of self-consciousness. What a joy she was after Adelaide.
As if the name had brought her, a voice spoke from the door. “I wouldn’t let Waldron announce me, Ricky; may I come in?”
She stopped as she saw Jane. “Oh, you’re not alone?”
“This is Miss Barnes, Adelaide. I think you met her brother to-day at luncheon. Edith telephoned that you and Eloise had found her.”
“That’s what I came about, to warn you. Eloise has the reporters on her trail. She’ll be over in a minute. But the harm will be done, I am afraid, before you can stop her.”
“Oh, I’m resigned. Edith’s coming back to-night. Miss Barnes’ brother is bringing her.”
“Really?” Adelaide Laramore was appraising Jane. A shabby child. From the threshold she had had a moment of jealousy. But the moment was past. Frederick was extremely fastidious. He adored beauty and this Barnes child was not beautiful.
What Mrs. Laramore failed to see was that Jane’s beauty was of a very special kind. It was not standardized. It was not marcelled and cold-creamed, and rouged and powdered. But it had to do with lighted-up eyes, with youth and a free spirit. And it was these things in her which had attracted Frederick.
Jane was unfastening the earrings. “Aren’t they heavenly, Mrs. Laramore?”