Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/366

Rh as a generalization. I mean to marry as soon as I get the chance!”

“The chance?”

“To meet the right man. I’m gambler enough to believe in my luck yet!”

Mrs. Amherst sighed compassionately. “There is no right man! As Blanche says, matrimony’s as uncomfortable as a ready-made shoe. How can one and the same institution ﬁt every individual case? And why should we all have to go lame because marriage was once invented to suit an imaginary case?”

Justine gave a slight shrug. “You talk of walking lame—how else do we all walk? It seems to me that life’s the tight boot, and marriage the crutch that may help one to hobble along!” She drew Bessy’s hand into hers with a caressing pressure. “When you philosophize I always know you’re tired. No one who feels well stops to generalize about symptoms. If you won’t let your doctor prescribe for you, your nurse is going to carry out his orders. What you want is quiet. Be reasonable and send away everybody before Mr. Amherst comes back!”

She dropped the last phrase carelessly, glancing away as she spoke; but the stiffening of the ﬁngers in her clasp sent a little tremor through her hand.

“Thanks for your advice. It would be excellent but for one thing—my husband is not coming back!” [ 350 ]