The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure — John Shaqi
The Ranch Girls and Their Great AdventureVandercook, Margaret
General
The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure
Vandercook, Margaret
Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Juvenile fiction; Love stories; Sisters -- Juvenile fiction
Really she and Frank tried very hard not to discuss any differences of
opinion they felt concerning the war. During the last few years the
marriages between men and women of different nationalities have had a
great strain put upon them. At present, Frank as an Englishman, thought
that the United States should immediately have gone in upon the side of
the Allies, while Jack did not; and now and then they unfortunately fell
into a discussion of the subject.
Therefore, when they entered church this Sunday morning, neither Jack
nor Frank were in a good humor toward each other. Jack felt that, as
she was doing all she could in the service of his country, he should
have made no unkind criticism of hers. Frank did not think at all,
except to wish that Jack would refrain from argument. Certainly a man
wished for peace in his own home when it was nowhere else. But it did
not occur to Frank that it takes two to keep peace as well as two to
make a quarrel; nor did he begin to realize how trying he had been at
home during the past few months.
As a matter of fact Frank was spoiled, as many Englishmen and some
American men are. He had been an only son who was to inherit the family
title, and his mother and sisters had always put him first in all
things. It was true that when he came to the United States he had fallen
in love with Jacqueline Ralston because, for one reason, she did not
treat him differently at the beginning of their acquaintance from any
cowboy on her ranch. That is, she was perfectly polite to him, when she
remembered his existence; but then she was polite to everybody and
recognized no social distinctions. She liked her own freedom, allowed
other people theirs, and went her way untroubled by the opinion of
others.
But, at present--as is often the case with men after they marry--the
very things in Jack which had attracted Frank before marriage annoyed
him now. He believed she ought to be more influenced by his views. Of
course, she ordinarily gave in to his wishes. However, he seldom felt as
if she were convinced, but believed she yielded through sheer sweet
temper.
Moreover, Frank's irritability continued all day, so that several times
after their return home, Jack found herself mortified before Olive and
Frieda. Not that she minded so much about Olive, since Olive and Frank
had always understood each other. But, as Frieda had announced herself
as being disappointed with marriage, Jack did not wish her to think that
her own was also a failure.
After their midday luncheon on Sunday it was always Lord and Lady Kent's
custom to walk over their estate during the afternoon, visit the stables
and see as much of the condition of the place and the people on it as
was possible.
This Sunday afternoon Frank arose and started to go on his usual rounds
without suggesting that Jack accompany him.
However, she paid no attention to this, but followed him. Outdoors he
changed into a better mood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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