Улісс

           ThenightofthepartylongagoinStoer’s(hewasstillinshorttrousers)whentheywerealoneandhestoleanarmroundherwaistshewentwhitetotheverylips.Hecalledherlittleoneinastrangelyhuskyvoiceandsnatchedahalfkiss(thefirst!)butitwasonlytheendofhernoseandthenhehastenedfromtheroomwitharemarkaboutrefreshments.Impetuousfellow!StrengthofcharacterhadneverbeenReggyWylie’sstrongpointandhewhowouldwooandwinGertyMacDowellmustbeamanamongmen.Butwaiting,alwayswaitingtobeaskedanditwasleapyeartooandwouldsoonbeover.Noprincecharmingisherbeauidealtolayarareandwondrousloveatherfeetbutratheramanlymanwithastrongquietfacewhohadnotfoundhisideal,perhapshishairslightlyfleckedwithgrey,andwhowouldunderstand,takeherinhisshelteringarms,strainhertohiminallthestrengthofhisdeeppassionatenatureandcomfortherwithalonglongkiss.Itwouldbelikeheaven.Forsuchaonesheyearnsthisbalmysummereve.Withalltheheartofhershelongstobehisonly,hisaffiancedbrideforrichesforpoor,insicknessinhealth,tilldeathustwopart,fromthistothisdayforward.

           AndwhileEdyBoardmanwaswithlittleTommybehindthepushcarshewasjustthinkingwouldthedayevercomewhenshecouldcallherselfhislittlewifetobe.Thentheycouldtalkabouthertilltheywentblueintheface,BerthaSuppletoo,andEdy,littlespitfire,becauseshewouldbetwentytwoinNovember.