Her hair was beautifully dressed in
sweeping waves with scarcely any artificial work upon it. Her
dress was extremely tasteful and very expensive. There was no
simper on her lips, nothing superficial. She was only a tired,
homesick girl. As Linda looked at her she understood why Katy
had cried over her. She felt tears beginning to rise in her own
heart. She put both arms protectingly around Eileen.
"Why, you poor little thing," she said wonderingly, "was it so
damn' bad as all that?"
Eileen stood straight. She held herself rigidly. She merelY
nodded. Then after a second she said: "Worse than anything you
could imagine, Linda. Being rich with people who have grown rich
by accident is a dreadful experience."
"So I have always imagined," said Linda. And then in her usual
downright way she asked: "Why did you come, Eileen? Is there
anything you wanted of me?"
Eileen hesitated. It was not in Linda's heart to be mean.
"Homesick, little sister?" she asked lightly "Do you want to come
here while you're getting ready to make a home for John? Is that
it?"
Then Eileen swayed forward suddenly, buried her face in Linda's
breast, and for the first time in her life Linda saw and heard
her cry, not from selfishness, not from anger, not from greed,
but as an ordinary human being cries when the heart is so full
that nature relieves itself with tears. Linda closed her arms
around her and smiled over her head at John Gilman.
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