Carmella Commands
you really want to learn instead of pretend to, and do not smile so high hat.”
“Will you ask her, Kate?”
“Sure!” said Carmella, now in the doorway, struggling to make her escape.
“Then please tell her that I want to learn. I really do. And Kate⸺” Mrs. Barrington had a sudden inspiration. Her Margaret might gain by seeing America in the making. Even John might learn that to be young and different need not mean to be sullen.
“Kate, I’d like it ever so much if you would come over to my house some day for luncheon. Will you? Please?”
Carmella turned in amazement. Here was a note in Mrs. Barrington’s voice that she had never heard before. Never had she heard it in the voice of any American who was speaking to her. It rang true.
Even in trying to buy her father’s land for less than it was worth—she hoped—neither Mr. Richmond nor Mr. Hastings had used that tone. They had been—well, high hat. And then they had been angry. Mrs. Barrington had turned from something that was high hat to something that was not that, and yet was not angry. It was something that thrilled Carmella. It sounded like human being to human being.
“I’d like to, Mrs. Barrington,” answered Carmella. “Gee! I would like to. But I gotta ask my mother. And she⸺”
[59]
