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She considered and raised her eyes to me

"What should I do? What should I tell him?"

"If he calls you and complains, you say take me as I am or don't take me at all That's what I would say"

"Yes," she agreed, nodding "I will Iand to dinner What am I supposed to do with the rest of my day now? I'm all dressed and I spent hours on my hair and makeup"

"Did you let him know that?"

"No I should have I will," she said "I'et back here or else"

"It's a nice day," I said gazing at the sea "If he doesn't come back, just come out here and read"

"Read? Read! I have things to buy I wanted to get a new cape for my red velvet dress," she whined

"I'll be here," I said, "if you don't go off to Boston"

She stared atdown on her lower lip, her eyes blazing, she spun and marched back to the house

I looked toward the boathouse Iht He would probably drive around in circles for days It brought a smile to my lips I recalled a quotation I had recently read "A h her ears" Carson McGil was the best example of that, I concluded Maybe one day I'd have the quotation embroidered on a pillow and send it to him so he could sleep with the wisdoht disdainfully

I returned to my book, never more content with myself

Belinda fumed for the remainder of the day because Carson wasn't home to receive her irate phone call and didn't return her call until early in the evening We had just finished dinner, eating under the at about how poorly Carson had treated her Daddy's face was folded into a deep scowl, his eyes dark, his forehead wrinkled as he brooded Mother, still having stomach trouble, ate little, whi most of the time Belinda ate even less Only I see so and what a beautiful a day it had been

"Well, it wasn't beautiful foraround a telephone"

"I'm surprised at you, Belinda," I said "You never let a man run your life like this before"