So you were bluffing, she repeated as if it were what she might have expected.
Bernice admitted it by bursting into tears. Marjories eyes showed boredom.
Youre my cousin, sobbed Bernice. Im v-v-visiting you. I was to stay a month, and if I go home my mother will know and shell wah-wonder
Marjorie waited until the shower of broken words collapsed into little sniffles.
Ill give you my months allowance, she said coldly, and you can spend this last week anywhere you want. Theres a very nice hotel
Bernices sobs rose to a flute note, and rising of a sudden she fled from the room.
An hour later, while Marjorie was in the library absorbed in composing one of those non-committal marvelously elusive letters that only a young girl can write, Bernice reappeared, very red-eyed, and consciously calm. She cast no glance at Marjorie but took a book at random from the shelf and sat down as if to read. Marjorie seemed absorbed in her letter and continued writing. When the clock showed noon Bernice closed her book with a snap.
I suppose Id better get my railroad ticket.
This was not the beginning of the speech she had rehearsed up-stairs, but as Marjorie was not getting her cues wasnt urging her to be reasonable; its an a mistake it was the best opening she could muster.
Just wait till I finish this letter, said Marjorie without looking round. I want to get it off in the next mail.
After another minute, during which her pen scratched busily, she turned round and relaxed with an air of at your service. Again Bernice had to speak.
Do you want me to go home?
Well, said Marjorie, considering, I suppose if youre not having a good time youd better go. No use being miserable.
Dont you think common kindness
Oh, please dont quote Little Women! cried Marjorie impatiently. Thats out of style.
You think so?
Heavens, yes! What modern girl could live like those inane females?
They were the models for our mothers.
Marjorie laughed.
Yes, they were not! Besides, our mothers were all very well in their way, but they know very little about their daughters problems.
Bernice drew herself up.
Please dont talk about my mother.
Marjorie laughed.
I dont think I mentioned her.
Bernice felt that she was being led away from her subject.
Do you think youve treated me very well?
Ive done my best. Youre rather hard material to work with.
The lids of Bernices eyes reddened.
I think youre hard and selfish, and you havent a feminine quality in you.
Oh, my Lord! cried Marjorie in desperation You little nut! Girls like you are responsible for all the tiresome colorless marriages; all those ghastly inefficiencies that pass as feminine qualities. What a blow it must be when a man with imagination marries the beautiful bundle of clothes that hes been building ideals round, and finds that shes just a weak, whining, cowardly mass of affectations!
Bernices mouth had slipped half open.
The womanly woman! continued Marjorie. Her whole early life is occupied in whining criticisms of girls like me who really do have a good time.
Bernices jaw descended farther as Marjories voice rose.
Theres some excuse for an ugly girl whining. If Id been irretrievably ugly Id never have forgiven my parents for bringing me into the world. But youre starting life without any handicap Marjories little fist clinched, If you expect me to weep with you youll be disappointed. Go or stay, just as you like. And picking up her letters she left the room.
Bernice claimed a headache and failed to appear at luncheon. They had a matinée date for the afternoon, but the headache persisting, Marjorie made explanation to a not very downcast boy. But when she returned late in the afternoon she found Bernice with a strangely set face waiting for her in her bedroom.
Ive decided, began Bernice without preliminaries, that maybe youre right about things possibly not. But if youll tell me why your friends arent arent interested in me Ill see if I can do what you want me to.
Marjorie was at the mirror shaking down her hair.
Do you mean it?
Yes.
Without reservations? Will you do exactly what I say?
Well, I
Well nothing! Will you do exactly as I say?
If theyre sensible things.
Theyre not! Youre no case for sensible things.
Are you going to make to recommend
Yes, everything. If I tell you to take boxing-lessons youll have to do it. Write home and tell your mother youre going to soy another two weeks.
If youll tell me
All right Ill just give you a few examples now. First you have no ease of manner. Why? Because youre never sure about your personal appearance. When a girl feels that shes perfectly groomed and dressed she can forget that part of her. Thats charm. The more parts of yourself you can afford to forget the more charm you have.
Dont I look all right?
No; for instance you never take care of your eyebrows. Theyre black and lustrous, but by leaving them straggly theyre a blemish. Theyd be beautiful if youd take care of them in one-tenth the time you take doing nothing. Youre going to brush them so that theyll grew straight.
Bernice raised the brows in question.