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Flaming Youth

<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> The Fentriss house stood high on a knoll overlooking the Country Club which constituted Dorrisdale's chief attraction as a suburb. Mona Fentriss had built it with a legacy of $25,000 left to her just before Patricia's birth, and Ralph had put in the $15,000 necessary to complete the work after the architect's original estimate had been exhausted, leaving the place still unfinished by one wing, all the decorations, and most of the plumbing. The extra cost was due largely to the constantly altering schemes of Mona. She wished her house "just so," and just so she finally had it from the little conservatory off the side hallway to the comfortable servants' suite on the third floor. If the result was, architecturally, a plate of hash, as Ralph called it, nevertheless the house was particularly easy to live in. To Mona Fentriss belonged the credit for this. What she had of conscience was enlisted in her domestic economy. As Ralph Fentriss's wife she might be casually unfaithful. As mistress of his household she was impeccable. The effortless seductiveness of her personality established its special atmosphere throughout the place. It made the servants her devoted and unwearying aids, and broadly speaking, a household is much what the servants make it. People gravitate naturally to a well-run place. Life seems so suave and easy there. Guests of all ages came and went at Holiday Knoll, mostly men. Mona cared little for women, and her own strong magnetism for men had been inherited by her two grown daughters.[Pg 19] There was no special selectiveness about the company. All that was required of them was that they should be superficially presentable and contribute something of amusement or entertainment to the composite life of the ménage. At least nine-tenths of them were making love to Constance or Mary Delia or Mona herself, openly or surreptitiously as the case might be. It made a pleasantly restless and stimulating atmosphere. In the city itself there would have been criticism of the easy standards; indeed there was more or less which drifted out to the Knoll. But judgments in the suburbs are kindlier. And Dorrisdale is quite fashionable enough to establish its own standards. Any week-end would find half a dozen or more cars bunched on the driveway, having brought their quota of pleasure-seeking youth out from New York or from Philadelphia or Baltimore or Princeton. The girls had carte blanche, within reasonable limits, for invitations, which they were careful not to abuse. A few errors in judgment had reacted unpleasantly not only upon themselves but upon their undesirable guests. Mona Fentriss could act with decision and dignity within her own walls. Her social discrimination was keen if not rigid, and she possessed a blighting gift of sarcasm, mainly imitative, the most deadly kind used against the young. Neither of the girls was likely ever to forget her imitation of Connie's friend from Minneapolis whose method of handling a fork, according to Mrs. Fentriss's theory, had been derived from bayonet practice in camp; nor her presentation of a steamship acquaintance of Dee's who had too pathetically bewailed his losses at bridge. Partly from theory, partly as a trouble-saving device, the mother seldom attempted any exercise of direct authority upon the children. A system of [Pg 20]self-government was established, or, rather, encouraged to grow into being. It was ordained that each of the girls should have her own room to hold like a castle, into which not even the parents might intrude unbidden, and for which the occupant was held responsible. Constance's room was luxurious, lazy, filled with photographs mainly of groups in which her charming face was always central. The special mark of Mary Delia's was its white and airy kemptness. Patricia's was a mess of clothing and odds and ends, tossed hither and thither and left to lie as they fell until a temporary access of orderliness inspired the child to clean up. It suggested a room in which no window was opened at night. Fentriss called it the hurrah's nest. Through this feminine environment he moved like a tolerant but semi-detached presiding genius. His profession as consulting engineer took him early to the city and that, or something else, often kept him late. Being a considerate though rather selfish person, he invariably telephoned when detained over dinner time, which made the less difference in that there were always two or three men dropping in after golf, hopeful of an invitation to stay: Harry Mercer or the Grant twins, or Sam Gracie, or one of the Selfridges, father or son. Envious mothers whispered that Mrs. Fentriss was trying to catch Emslie Selfridge for Constance, and that it might not be as good a match as she supposed; things weren't going any too well at the Selfridge factory since the strike. They also wondered acidly that Ralph Fentriss was so easy as to let his pretty wife go about so much with Steve Selfridge, who was almost old enough to be her father, it was true, but whose reputation was that of a decidedly unwithered age. It would no more have occurred to Fentriss to raise objections over Mona's going where she pleased, with[Pg 21] whom she pleased than it would have occurred to her to ask his permission. All that was past long ago. The outside member of the family was Robert Osterhout. He lived near by in a small studio-bungalow where he conducted delicate and obscure experiments in the therapy of the ductless glands. Thrice a week he lectured at the University, for he had already won a reputation in his own specialty. Having inherited a sufficient fortune, he was letting his private practice dwindle to a point where presently the Fentriss family would be about all there was left of it. Into and out of the house on the knoll he wandered, casual, unobtrusive, never in the way, always welcome, contributing a quiet, solid background to the kaleidoscopic pattern of its existence. In the most innocent of senses he was l'ami du maison. If he was and had for years been in love with Mona, the fact never made a ripple in the affectionate friendliness of their relations nor in the outward placidity of his life. It was accepted as part of the natural scheme of things. Fentriss recognized it, quite without resentment. Mona wondered at times whether Constance and Mary Delia were not aware of it—not that it would have made any difference. She herself made little account of it, yet she would sorely have missed the stable, enduring, inexpressive devotion had it lapsed. Bob was the intellectual outlet for her restless, fervent, exigent nature, too complex to be satisfied with physical and emotional gratifications alone. One could talk to Bob; God knows, there were few enough others in her set with any understanding beyond the current chatter of the day! After her sentence was pronounced she talked to him even more frankly than theretofore. "If Ralph had died, Bob, I'd probably have married you." [Pg 22] "Would you?" "What do you mean by that? That you wouldn't have married me?" "I'd probably have done as you wished. I always do." "So you do, old dear! That's the reason I'd have married you. That, and to keep you in the family, where you belong." "I'll keep myself in the family, Mona, if you want me there." "But Ralph didn't die," she pursued. "I'm going to, instead. You can't marry Ralph." "Not very well." "But you might marry the girls." "All of 'em?" "Connie, I think. She's most like me." "She isn't nearly as pretty as you." Mona blew him a kiss. "She's much, much prettier. Don't be so prejudiced. And she's very intelligent, for twenty-two." "About half my age." "Oh, she'd catch up fast enough. She's quite mature." "Much too attractive for an old husband, thank you. That way trouble lies—as you know!" "Thanks, yourself!" She thrust out her tongue at him in an impudent, childish grimace. "Perhaps you'd prefer Mary Delia." "I understand Dee better than I do Connie." "Do you? It's more than I do. She's devilish frank about other people but she never gives herself away." "That's what I like about her." "You really are quite chummy with her, aren't you?" said the mother, looking at him curiously. "But that's because you're so much older. She doesn't care much about men really." [Pg 23] "She's unawakened. There's hot blood under that cool skin." "I wonder what makes you think that?" "Oh, a medically trained man notices little things." "So does a woman. But I haven't seen—— Has Dee begun to awake?" "Oh, no! She's quite unaware of herself in that way. Very likely she won't until after she's married." "After? Won't that be a little late?" "It's the first awakening a lot of women have. And a harsh one for some." "What a lot of unpleasant things doctors know about life!" "Life's got its unpleasant phases." "Particularly for women.... Yet I'm glad I've been a woman." A little, sensuous quiver passed over her tenderly modelled lips. She smiled, sighed, and reverted to her other thought. "But you're going to have your hands full with the Fentrisses. Really, you'd do better if you married one." "Perhaps I shouldn't do as well. I might be too taken up with the one." She darted a glance at him, full of shrewd questioning with a touch of suspicion. "You could care for Dee," she interpreted. "I'd be more flattered if it were Connie." She pressed an electric button. To the trim maid who appeared she said, "Send Miss Dee here, please, Mollie." "What are you going to do, Mona?" demanded Osterhout in some alarm, for he knew the devastating frankness with which she was wont to deal with those nearest her. "Wait and see." There was a rhythmic, swift footfall on the stairs, the[Pg 24] door was thrown open, and Mary Delia Fentriss swung in upon them. "Hello, mother!" she said. "Hail, Lord Roberts! What's the summons?" Her bearing attested poise, careless self-confidence, and a brusque and ready good humour. She was tall, rounded, supple, browned, redolent of physical expression. At first sight one knew that here was a girl whose body would exhale freshness, whose lips would be cool, whose breath would be sweet, whose voice would be even, whose senses and nerves would be controlled. A student of humankind might have appreciated in her the unafraid honesty and directness which so often go with the consciousness of physical strength, in women as well as men. Her nickname in the family was Candida. She was not beautiful; not even pretty, by strict standards. But there was about her a sort of careless splendour. "Been playing golf?" asked her mother. "Yes. Cantered in with a forty-seven." "Nice going! How would you like to marry Bob?" Neither the expression nor the attitude of the girl altered, but her cool and thoughtful eyes turned upon Osterhout. "Has his lordship been making proposals for me?" "No; I haven't!" barked the gentleman in the case. "Watson, the strait-jacket! He's growing violent." "It was wholly my idea," proffered Mona. "I thought Bobs was your special property. Why mark him down? It isn't bargain day." "He's a fairly good bargain, though," pointed out her mother. "Don't mind me if you want to discuss my good points," said Osterhout, lighting a cigarette and seating himself upon the window sill. [Pg 25] "I don't," said Mary Delia. "Let's consider him as a market proposition. His age is against him. You're forty, aren't you, Bobs?... He doesn't squirm, mother. That's a bad sign; shows he's reached the age where he doesn't care. Or is it a good sign, showing his self-control?" "Dee, I'd beat you if I married you." Her eyes lightened. "Would you? I believe you'd try." With a bound she was upon him. One arm crooked under his shoulder, the heel of the other fist was thrust under his chin. "Improved jit," she panted. "You'd have your work cut out." There was a quick shift, a blending of the two figures, and the slighter was bent backward almost to the floor. "Give up?" demanded Osterhout, his face close above the laughing lips. "Yes. Lord, you're quick! Thought I had you. Take your penalty and let me up." Ignoring the invitation he set her in a chair and restored his deranged necktie. "I'll apologise for the forty," said Dee. "You're not so old and feeble! To resume, as we say when serious; you're homely as a scalded pup——" "Thank you!" "—but it's a nice homely. You've got a lamb of a disposition. And money enough. Haven't you?" "Enough for me." "How passionately he pleads his cause! You play a nasty round of golf, too; I mustn't forget that. But—no. I don't think I would. Not even if you asked me." "What's the obstacle, Dee?" "Well, for one thing, there's Jimmy James." "What!" "Quite so," said the girl sedately. [Pg 26] "You're engaged to James?" "We haven't got that far yet. But I've got him on the run." "Dee!" expostulated her mother, laughing. "Does he know of your honourable intentions?" queried Osterhout. "He hasn't expressed his own yet. But he will." "When?" "Next time I kiss him." "Next time, eh? How many times will that make?" "Haven't counted, Grandpa," mocked the girl. "We haven't pulled many petting parties, though." "Well, I'm good-and-be-damned," muttered Osterhout. "Modern stuff, Bob," remarked Mona. "Being an ancient fossil, I'd say dangerous stuff with a fellow like Jameson James." "Not with a girl like me," returned Dee with superb assurance. "Bee-lieve muh, I've got a hand on the emergency brake every minute." Osterhout, who had returned to his window seat, gave a sharp exclamation. "What's the matter now?" He rubbed his cheek, growling. A hoarse, childish voice from below, which had in it some echo of Mona Fentriss's lyric and alluring tones, served to answer the question: "Where did I hit you, old Bobs?" "It's the Scrub," said Dee. "Don't you call me 'Bobs,' you young devil." "Oh, all right! Doctor Bobs. Come down. I've got a fer-rightful gash in my knee." "Well, don't show it to the world. I'll be there immediately." "If you want to be the family benefactor," said Mary[Pg 27] Delia as he was leaving, "marry Pat. Nobody else ever will." "You're a liar!" came the hoarse voice from outside. There was a pause as for consideration. "A stinkin' liar," it concluded with conviction. "Pat!" called her mother. "Oh, very well! But I bet I'm married before I'm Dee's age. And to a better man than Jimmy James. He's a chaser." "We've got to send that child away to school," said Mona Fentriss in amused dismay as the door closed behind Osterhout. "She's growing up any old way, and she seems to know everything that's going on.... Dee, are you really going to marry Jimmy James?" "I think so. Any objections?" "Well, Ada Clare, you know." "He's through with her." "She's the kind that men don't get through with so readily. It's gone pretty far." "It's gone the limit probably. Well, I never thought Jimmy was President of the Purity League, Mother." "Do you really care for him, Dee?" "Of course I do. I don't mean that he gives me an awful thrill. Nobody does." "Perhaps the right man would." "Then I haven't seen him yet. Mother," she turned her cool regard upon Mona, "tell me about it." "About what?" "The thrill. The real thrill. You know." Mona's colour deepened. "You're a queer child, Dee. There are some things a woman has to find out for herself." "Or get some man to teach her," supplied the girl[Pg 28] thoughtfully. "The whole thing's mostly bluff, I think. Men are queer things. I could laugh my head off at Jimmy sometimes." "That's a good safeguard." "Yes; but I don't need it.... Mother, aren't we going to pull a big party this spring?" "Of course. And we ought to do it pretty soon, too." "What makes you say that so queerly?" "Nothing," answered Mona hastily. "I was just thinking." For though she was up and about again, she knew that she was weakening under the heart attacks which she endured with silent fortitude, due partly to natural pride, partly to her belief that a complaining woman lost all charm for those about her, winning only the poor substitute of pity instead of admiration. Upon Dr. Osterhout she had imposed silence; she was determined that her household should know nothing so long as concealment was possible. In her way she was an unselfish woman. She was quite aware that this would be the last of her parties in the house on the knoll. Pat's voice floated upward in tones of lamentation. "Oh, damn it, Bobs! Go easy, can't you? That stuff's like fire." "Patricia's fifteen," reflected the mother. "I'll enter her at the Sisterhood School next fall." <hr /> [Pg 29] <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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