Page:Flaming Youth black on red.pdf/27

 FLAMING “She’s unawakened.

YOUTH

23

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?” “Tt’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