California, Southern -- Fiction; Motion picture industry -- Fiction; Petroleum industry and trade -- Fiction; Political fiction
Bunny thought over this conversation, and learned from it his usual
lesson of humility. Vee had had to fight for her success; whereas he had
never had to fight for anything. If he wanted a moving picture career,
Dad would arrange it for him, the studio doors would fly open. And the
same with any other sort of career he could think of. How could he
afford to pass judgment on anybody?
Also, while he listened to Vee Tracy, he had the memory of Eunice Hoyt
to keep him humble. No, people didn’t know what was right about sex; or
at any rate, if they did, they didn’t make it clear. It was disagreeable
to have to think about so many other men; but then, too, it helped to
clear the atmosphere. She wouldn’t expect to marry him right off; there
were marriages among the screen people, but apparently not until they
had made sure they were happy. Also, it enabled Bunny to be certain that
Vee would not be shocked by the knowledge that she was haunting his
dreams.
They were at the Monastery, and had been dancing, and went out upon one
of the loggias, or platforms, or terraces, or whatever you call the
outside of a cathedral. There was a moon shining down—the same that had
shone on Bunny and Eunice, and on Bunny and Nina Goodrich. There was
organ music inside, and the scent of flowers outside, and Bunny was
thinking to himself, “What am I going to do about this?” It couldn’t go
on, that was certain; he had got so that he was trembling all over. And
yet, somehow, he seemed to be tongue-tied. So far, all the girls had had
to propose to him, and it was quite absurd. What the dickens was the
matter with him?
In a faltering voice he suggested, “Let’s dance.” Vee stood up, and he
stood up; they had danced out onto this loggia, or terrace or platform,
and now they would dance back, and he would be, literally, just where he
had been before. No, that wouldn’t do! He had a sudden fit of
desperation; and instead of the particular kind of embrace which has to
do with dancing, he put his arms about her in a way that made it
impossible for her to dance. This was a crude procedure, no credit to a
junior classman and leader of fashion in a high-toned university. Bunny
knew it, and was in a panic. She would not understand—she would be
angry, and send him away!
But no, she was not angry; and somehow, she was able to understand.
There is an old saying, that fingers were made before forks, and in the
same way it is true that embraces were made a long time before words.
Bunny became aware that his clasp was being returned—and by a pair of
capable arms, that were able to hold a girl upside down in the air and
carry her into the surf! It was all right! “Oh, Vee!” he whispered.
“Then you do care for me!” Her lips met his, and they stood there in the
moonlight, locked together, while the organ music rose to a shout.
“Vee, I was so scared!” And she laughed. “You silly boy!” But suddenly
she drew back her head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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