Oh, I didn’t dislike him. Of course, his family background is very good. His father came to Baltimore. It seems that he used to be an assistant professor of Latin at Yale University. His mother used to be an 11-member Quaker in the city.
Did you just say that they passed away?
Yes, his mother died in childbirth, and his father left 12 years ago. It was his father’s old friend Nelson who worked as a doctor in Marvin, so Louisa Isabel knew him.
Where is Marvin?
Louisa used to go there for the summer vacation in the same place as bradley’s rural residence. She felt sorry for Larry. Dr. Nelson was a bachelor and didn’t know how to take care of the children. Louisa Jian should send him to St. Paul’s boarding school and pick him up every Christmas. Eliot shrugged his shoulders like a Gaul. I should have thought of this.
Our eyes have turned to the art gallery. Eliot’s sense of taste once again made me admire him. He showed me around the halls when I was a new tourist, but I’m afraid even the art professor didn’t explain it clearly. I decided to wander around again. Let’s just follow Eliot for a while. He looked at his watch.
Let’s go. He said I’ve never been in the art gallery for more than an hour to appreciate patience. Let’s finish shopping another day.
I expressed my sincere gratitude before he left for this trip. Regardless of the increase in knowledge, my mood became irritable.
When I said goodbye to Mrs. bradley before, she said that Isabel wanted some friends to come home the next day. After dinner, they had to go to the dance. If I wanted to visit, I could chat with Eliot while they were away.
You’re doing him a favor. She said he’s been abroad for too long and feels out of place here and can’t find anyone to talk to.
I promised her Eliot that I would be glad to accompany him before parting at the gate of the art museum.
I seem to have lost my way in this big city. He said that I promised Louisa that I would stay in Chicago for six weeks. After all, we haven’t seen each other since 1912, but I look forward to going back to Paris every day. Paris is suitable for literati, brother. Do you know what people here think of me? They treat me like a freak. These barbarians
I smiled and left.
six
Eliot was coming to pick me up the next evening, but I declined his kindness and arrived safely at Mrs. bradley’s mansion alone. Because of previous guests’ visit, I arrived late, but I heard the noise in the living room on the first floor, thinking that there were bound to be many guests. Unexpectedly, there were also 12 of me. Mrs. bradley wore a gorgeous green satin collar and a small pearl necklace. Eliot was a perfect little late gift. When he shook hands with me gracefully, he introduced me to a tall, fat, red-faced man who wore a gift. It seems a little awkward. He is a doctor named Nelson, but at that time, all the other guests were Isabel’s friends. After listening to the names, I forgot that the women were young and beautiful, and the men were handsome and tall, but they didn’t impress me. I only remember that a tall and strong boy was over six feet tall and broad shoulders. Isabel was also very bright that night, wearing a white dress and a narrow dress just covered her fat legs. The referee cut off her chest, showing a little too many fleshy arms, but her neck was delicate. Her excitement was beyond words, and her eyes were shining and moving. Undoubtedly, her appearance
On my left and right at the dinner were Mrs. bradley, a shy girl who seemed to be much younger than the others. After we sat down, Mrs. bradley first broke the silence and introduced that the girl’s grandparents lived in Marvin. Isabel used to be the same person named Sophie. They were joking and laughing, and they seemed to know each other very well. I tried to talk to Sophie before Mrs. bradley chatted, but she was always unable to get in. She was quieter than the others, not beautiful, but her face was quite annoying, her nose was slightly crooked, her mouth was wide and her eyes were blue. Brown hair with green sand is simple. She is quite thin and her chest is as flat as a boy. She giggles while listening to everyone laughing, but it seems a bit reluctant to make people think that she is not as happy as she looks. I guess she just forced a smile because she didn’t want to spoil everyone’s interest. I’m not sure if she was stupid or shy, but after talking to her for a few topics, she really didn’t know what to say. Just tell me the names of other guests.
Well, you know Dr. Nelson, right? She pointed to the middle-aged man sitting opposite Mrs. bradley. He is Larry’s guardian. Dr. Marvin has a good brain and drinks when he has nothing to do with airplane accessories.
Sophie’s eyes sparkled when she said this, and I couldn’t help thinking that she might be more interesting than I expected. She continued to tell me the names of the young people present one by one, and when introducing their parents to boys, she also mentioned that they used to go to college and are currently engaged in work, but most of them are quite general, so she is very kind or he is good at golf.
Who is that big man with thick eyebrows?
Do you mean him? His name is Gray Mathurin. His father built a mansion by the Marvin River. He is a town millionaire. We are all very proud. We feel that our level has also increased. Mathurin Habsner Smith is one of the richest people in Chicago. Gray is his only child.
Her names sounded sour when I glanced at her curiously, and she blushed.
Tell me more about Mr. Maturin.
There is nothing to say. His family is rich and respected. He helped Marvin residents build a church and donated 1 million dollars to Chicago University.
He is handsome.
Not bad. You’ll never guess that his grandfather was poor, Irish, and his grandmother was Swedish, serving dishes in a restaurant.
Gray Mathurin looks ordinary, but he is not handsome. He has a rough appearance, a short nose and a blunt mouth. He is sexy. He has an Irish ruddy complexion, thick bright black hair and thick blue eyes. Although he has a strong figure, his clothes must be strong and well-proportioned, and his strong body is amazing. Larry beside him looks weak even though he is three or four inches shorter.
He has a lot of admiration, Sophie said shyly. I know some girls, and I will do anything to get him, but they don’t have a chance.
What is it?
You really don’t know anything.
Know what
He is completely in love with Isabel, but Isabel loves Larry.
Then why didn’t he try to get Isabel?
Larry is his best friend.
Then things will be in trouble
Who told Gray to be a moral model?
I’m not sure if she said this seriously or with a hint of teasing. Her behavior is not frivolous, reckless or playful, but I intuitively know that there is a lot of humor and cleverness in her bones. I’m curious about what’s going on in her mind when I talk, but I’m sure she will never answer. I can’t help but guess that she is an only child, and her relatives are much older. She is modest and not aggressive, but if I guess right, she has to be alone most of the time, so she should get used to quietly observing her elders and forming an opinion about them in her mind.
How old are you this year?
seventeen years old
Do you often read it? I rashly asked if she would still come and answer whether she would do her duty as host. Mrs. bradley had come to talk to me and the dinner would be over. I would talk to Sophie more about young men and women in my spare time and have fun together. The four of us went back to the living room upstairs.
I was surprised to be invited, because apart from chatting casually at first, the topic later sounded more suitable to me. Private discussion was my hesitation. I didn’t know whether to get up and leave or watch my identity. They talked about Larry’s incomprehension. He refused to find a job. Mr. Matulin expressed his willingness to hire Larry to help his company very early. This is indeed a great opportunity. If Larry can play his talents and be diligent and dedicated, he will accumulate considerable income in time. Gray also hopes that Larry can take this job.
I can’t remember the details, but I still remember them in general. After Larry came back from France, his guardian, Dr. Nelson, suggested that he go to college, but he refused. He wanted to relax. After all, the battlefield was very hard, and he was injured twice. Dr. Nelson thought that Larry was still frightened by the war and should have a good rest until he recovered. However, several weeks passed and months passed. Today, he has been discharged from the army for more than a year. After he returned to Chicago, he was outstanding. People noticed that many industry bosses wanted to hire him, but after thanking him one by one, he declined to say that he was still thinking about his future. Later, he got engaged to Isabel, and Mrs. bradley was not surprised. Because the young couple had been together for many years and Isabel really loved Larry, she also supported the child and thought he could bring Isabel happiness.
Isabel’s character is stronger than Larry’s to make up for his shortcomings.
Even though they are still young, Mrs. bradley is very willing to let them get married as soon as possible, but Larry had to pay Larry some savings first, but Mrs. bradley still won’t give in. As far as the present situation is concerned, Eliot hopes to find out what Larry wants to do from Dr. Nelson, and they hope Nelson can influence him to take over Mr. Maturin’s job.
As you know, Larry never listens to me very much. He said he was very spontaneous since he was a child.
Yeah, you let him live. It’s incredible that he didn’t go astray.
Dr. Nelson gave her an angry look after drinking too much, and her red face swelled even more.
I’m busy. I have a lot of personal chores to do. I left him because he has no one else to turn to. Besides, his father is my friend, and it’s not easy for him to take care of him.