Page:Booth Tarkington - Alice Adams.djvu/176

 we could afford to help him financially. They all belong to the country clubs and have cars and"

"Let's don't go into that any more, mama," the daughter begged her. "What's the use?"

"It could be of use," Mrs. Adams insisted. "It could if your father"

"But papa can't."

"Yes, he can."

"But how can he? He told me a man of his age can't give up a business he's been in practically all his life, and just go groping about for something that might never turn up at all. I think he's right about it, too, of course!"

Mrs. Adams splashed among the plates with a new vigour heightened by an old bitterness. "Oh, yes," she said. "He talks that way; but he knows better."

"How could he 'know better,' mama?"

"He knows how!"

"But what does he know?"

Mrs. Adams tossed her head. "You don't suppose I'm such a fool I'd be urging him to give up something for nothing, do you, Alice? Do you suppose I'd want him to just go 'groping around' like he was telling you.? That would be crazy, of course. Little as his work at Lamb's brings in. I wouldn't be