"
Eileen broke in rudely. "Linda has missed Marian. There's not a
possible thing to make life uncomfortable for me that she is not
doing. You needn't tell me you didn't see and understand her
rude forwardness the other night!"
"No, I didn't see it," said John, "because the fact is I thought
the kid was positively charming, and so did Peter and Henry
because both of them said so. There's one thing you must take
into consideration, Eileen. The time has come when she should
have clothes and liberty and opportunity to shape her life
according to her inclinations. Let me tell you she will attract
attention in georgette and laces."
"And where are the georgette and laces to come from?" inquired
Eileen sarcastically. "All outgo and no income for four years is
leaving the Strong finances in mighty precarious shape, I can
tell you."
"All right," said Gilman, "I'm financially comfortable now. I'm
ready. Say the word. We'll select our location and build our
home, and let Linda have what there is of the Strong income till
she is settled in life. You have pretty well had all of it for
the past four years."
"Yes," said Eileen furiously, "I have 'pretty well' had it, in a
few little dresses that I have altered myself and very frequently
made entirely. I have done the best I could, shifting and
skimping, and it's not accomplished anything that I have really
wanted. According to men, the gas and the telephone and the
electric light and the taxes and food and cook pay for
themselves.
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