One's wicked Thoughts, and is in one's self.)
As I have said, the other side of the Compromise was that I was notto carry Flasks with me, or drink any punch at parties if it had astick in it, and you can generally find out by the taste. For if itis what Carter Brooks calls "loaded" it stings your tongue. Or ifit tastes like cider it's probably Champane. And I was not to smokeany cigarettes.
Mother was holding out on the Sweater at that time, saying that Sishad a perfectly good one from Miami, and why not wear that? So Iput up a strong protest about the cigarettes, although I have neversmoked but once as I think the School knows, and that only halfthrough, owing to getting dizzy. I said that Sis smoked now andthen, because she thought it looked smart; but that, if I was tohave a Career, I felt that the sootheing influence of tobaco wouldhelp a lot.
So I got the new Sweater, and everything looked smooth again, andmother kissed me on the way out, and said she had not meant to beharsch, but that my great uncle Putnam had been a notoriousdrunkard, and I looked like him, although of a more refined tipe.
There was a dreadful row that night, however, when father camehome. We were all dressed for dinner, and waiting in the drawingroom, and Leila was complaining about me, as usual.
"She looks older than I do now, mother," she said. "If she goes tothe seashore with us I'll have her always taging at my heals. Idon't see why I can't have my first summer in peace." Oh, yes, wewere going to the shore, after all. Sis wanted it, and everybodydoes what she wants, regardless of what they prefer, even Fishing.
"First summer!" I exclaimed. "One would think you were a teething baby!"
"I was speaking to mother, Barbara. Everyone knows that a Debutanteonly has one year nowadays, and if she doesn't go off in that yearshe's swept away by the flood of new Girls the next fall. We mightas well be frank. And while Barbara's not a beauty, as soon as thebones in her neck get a little flesh on them she won't be hopeless,and she has a flipant manner that Men like."
"I intend to keep Barbara under my eyes this summer," mother saidfirmly. "After last Xmas's happenings, and our Discovery today, Ishall keep her with me. She need not, however, interfere with you,Leila. Her Hours are mostly diferent, and I will see that herfriends are the younger boys."
I said nothing, but I knew perfectly well she had in mind EddiePerkins and Willie Graham, and a lot of other that hangaround the fruit Punch at parties, and throw the peas from theCroquettes at each other when the footmen are not near, and pretendthey are allowed to smoke, but have sworn off for the summer.
I was naturaly indignant at Sis's words, which were not filial, tomy mind, but I replied as sweetly as possable:
"I shall not be in your way, Leila. I ask nothing but Food andShelter, and that perhaps not for long."
"Why? Do you intend to die?" she demanded.
"I intend to work," I said. "It's more interesting than dieing, andwill be a novelty in this House."
Father came in just then, and he said:
"I'll not wait to dress, Clara. Hello, ren. I'll just changemy coller while you ring for the Cocktails."
Mother got up and faced him with Magesty.
"We are not going to have, any" she said.
"Any what?" said father from the doorway.
"I have had some fruit juice prepared with a dash of bitters. It isquite nice. And I'll ask you, James, not to explode before theservants. I will explain later."
Father has a very nice disposition but I could see that mother'smanner got on his Nerves, as it got on mine. Anyhow there was aterific fuss, with Sis playing the Piano so that the servants wouldnot hear, and in the end father had a Cocktail. Mother waited untilhe had had it, and was quieter, and then she told him about me, andmy having a Flask in my Suitcase. Of course I could have explained,but if they persisted in mis-understanding me, why not let them doso, and be miserable?
"It's a very strange thing, Bab," he said, looking at me, "thateverything in this House is quiet until you come home, and then weget as lively as kittens in a frying pan. We'll have to marry youoff pretty soon, to save our piece of mind."
"James!" said my mother. "Remember last winter, please."
There was no Clar.