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The Van Sideren set were tired of the conventional color-scheme in art and conduct. Julia Westall had long had her own views on the immorality of marriage; she might indeed have claimed her husband as a disciple.
It was in quest of such aid that she had seized on Westall, coaxing him, somewhat to his wife's surprise, into a flattered participation in her fraud. It was vaguely felt, in the Van Sideren circle, that all the audacities were artistic, and that a teacher who pronounced marriage immoral was somehow as distinguished as a painter who depicted purple grass and a green sky.
She met them now, but only, as she felt, in transit; they included her parenthetically in a larger flight. She followed the flight, and it carried her to a corner to which Una had withdrawn one of the palmy nooks to which Mrs. Van Sideren attributed the success of her Saturdays. Westall, a moment later, had overtaken his look, and found a place at the girl's side.
He turned slightly and pushed back the lamp at his elbow. "Oh, Miss Van Sideren naturally " "Why naturally?" "The daughter of the house would you have had her sent out with her governess?" "If I had a daughter I should not allow such things to go on in my house!" Westall, stroking his mustache, leaned back with a faint smile. "I fancy Miss Van Sideren is quite capable of taking care of herself."
The Van Sideren set were tired of the conventional color-scheme in art and conduct. Julia Westall had long had her own views on the immorality of marriage; she might indeed have claimed her husband as a disciple.
It was Una Van Sideren who, on this occasion, unconsciously focussed upon herself Mrs. Westall's wandering resentment. In the first place, the girl had no business to be there. It was "horrid" Mrs. Westall found herself slipping back into the old feminine vocabulary simply "horrid" to think of a young girl's being allowed to listen to such talk.
I can assure you that Miss Van Sideren doesn't have to have her thinking done for her. She's quite capable of doing it herself." "You seem very familiar with her mental processes!" flashed unguardedly from his wife. He looked up quietly from the pages he was cutting. "I should like to be," he answered. "She interests me."
"My dear Una," she said, "you don't in the least understand what it's all about!" Miss Van Sideren stared, with a slowly answering blush. "Don't you, then?" she murmured. Mrs. Westall laughed. "Not always or altogether! But I should like some tea, please." Una led her to the corner where innocent beverages were dispensed. As Julia received her cup she scrutinized the girl more carefully.
His gesture seemed to deprecate the crudeness of the allusion. "To marry some one else?" Again his eye and hand protested. She rose and stood before him. "Why should you be afraid to tell me? Is it Una Van Sideren?" He was silent. "I wish you good luck," she said. She looked up, finding herself alone. She did not remember when or how he had left the room, or how long afterward she had sat there.
"What you tell me is immensely flattering to my oratorical talent but I fear you overrate its effect. I can assure you that Miss Van Sideren doesn't have to have her thinking done for her. She's quite capable of doing it herself." "You seem very familiar with her mental processes!" flashed unguardedly from his wife. He looked up quietly from the pages he was cutting.
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