III
He spent a good many evenings at the club, and Maria found him a willing
cavalier when Tom "drew the line" at dancing parties. Alexina, who had sold
her car to Janet and her new gowns to Polly, had announced that she was
bored with dancing and should devote the winter to study. She spent the
evenings either in her library upstairs or with her friends. Mortimer saw
her only at the table.
He wondered if Tom Abbott would rent the house every winter. A pleasant
feeling of irresponsibility was beginning to possess his jaded spirit. He
made a little money occasionally, but he was no longer expected to hand
anything over when the first of the month came round--a date that had
haunted him like a nightmare for four long years. Pie could spend it on
himself, and he felt an. increasing pleasure in doing so.
CHAPTER XVII
I
Gray naked trees; orchards of prune and peach and cherry, mile after mile.
Orange trees in small wayside gardens heavy-laden with golden fruit. Tall
accacias a mass of canary colored bloom. Opulent palms shivering against a
gray sky. Close mountains green and dense with forest trees, their crests
filagreed with redwoods. Far mountains lifting their bleak ridges above
bare brown hills thirsting for rain.
The heavy rains were due. It was late in January. Alexina and several of
her friends were motoring back to the city through the Santa Clara Valley,
after luncheon with the Price Ruylers at their home on the mountain above
Los Gatos.
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