Montague relapsed into silence, and Oliver changed the subject. “It seems too bad about Lucy,” he said. “Is there nothing we can do about it?”
“Nothing,” said the other.
“She is simply ruining herself,” said Oliver. “I've been trying to get Reggie Mann to have her introduced to Mrs. Devon, but he says he wouldn't dare to take the risk.”
“No, I presume not,” said Montague.
“It's a shame,” said Oliver. “I thought Mrs. Billy Alden would ask her to Newport this summer, but now I don't believe she'll have a thing to do with her. Lucy will find she knows nobody except Stanley Ryder and his crowd. She has simply thrown herself away.”
Montague shrugged his shoulders. “That's Lucy's way,” he said.
“I suppose she'll have a good time,” added the other. “Ryder is generous, at any rate.”
“I hope so,” said Montague.
“They say he's making barrels of money,” said Oliver; then he added, longingly, “My God, I wish I had a trust company to play with!”
“Why a trust company particularly?” asked the other.