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 FLAMING

YOUTH

283

And paid the rent, and filled the place with luxury and orchids, cigarettes and champagne. You've been reading cheap novels. The rotten-minded little fiction writers don’t know everything. They don’t know anything about women.” Pat leaned forward. “Are you going to marry Dad?” The artist’s face hardened. ‘You were sent here to find that out.

Well, then, I am.”

, The older woman took off her glasses, rose, walked across to the lounge where Pat was seated and set her delicate hands on the girl’s shoulders, staring into her face with an inscrutable expression. “Why do you say that?”
 * V’'m glad,” said Pat simply and sincerely.

“Because it’s true. I’m crazy about you—already.” The other sat down limply. “What kind of a person are your” “Then [ll be, too. I’m not going to marry Ralph. I can’t. Tve got a husband. He’s no good. I haven’t lived with him for years. I had a devil of a life. I was going to kill myself when I met Ralph.” “Were you so poor?” asked Pat sympathetically. “Poor? Do you think it was a question of money with me that took me to Ralph?” retorted the other with slow anger.
 * An honest one.”

“No. I don’t know why I said that. But you’re so young.” “So is he,” was the defiant reply. “He’s eternally young. That’s what I love in him. I loved him the first time I ever saw him and I’ve never stopped. But if you’ve 4: come here looking for a common kept-woman “J haven’t.

Oh, I haven’t!”? broke in Pat, squirming.

“Anyway, you know all about me now.

All except my