Page:Conflict (1927).pdf/197

 Laetitia has never been anywhere, but once to Detroit to visit Gretchen, and Gretchen has asked her again for this summer. You know I don't like Gretchen's influence on Laetitia. And Roddie—I think if Roddie could be under the influence of camp standards for a while—clean play in sport, honesty in all things, it might make a difference to him all his life.'

'Of course,' murmured Felix again.

'And Cicely has thought of you, too, Felix,' Sheilah went on, 'she suggests I arrange with the little negro girl I told her about—Pansy, you know—to come oftener and look out for you.'

'I don't need Pansy.'

'Don't you want me to go, Felix?'

'Of course I do. It's only' He stopped.

'It's only what, Felix?'

'It's only it shows how much I amount to—not to be able to do it for you myself,' he brought out finally, through lips that scarcely moved.

'You've always done everything you could for me, Felix.'

'Nevin Baldwin could have done more, I guess,' he murmured.

'Nobody could have done more than their best, could they?' Sheilah inquired with her kindest smile.

But Felix didn't see the smile. He didn't even look up. He fell to shredding the piece of waste into