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"Yes, that's the only thin'. I'm all right now.... I suppose I'm in
Dutch down there."
"They know you're a little under the weather," said his uncle
deprecatingly. "But don't worry about it…"
Indifferent to any opinion, except Paula's, Anson was
nevertheless determined to save the debris of the evening, but when
after a cold bath he made his appearance most of the party had
already left. Paula got up immediately to go home.
In the limousine the old serious dialogue began. She had known
that he drank, she admitted, but she had never expected anything like
this – it seemed to her that perhaps they were not suited to each other,
after all. Their ideas about life were too different, and so forth. When
she finished speaking, Anson spoke in turn, very soberly. Then Paula
said she'd have to think it over; she wouldn't decide tonight; she was
not angry but she was terribly sorry. Nor would she let him come into
the hotel with her, but just before she got out of the car she leaned
and kissed him unhappily on the cheek.
The next afternoon Anson had a long talk with Mrs. Legendre
while Paula sat listening in silence. It was agreed that Paula was to
brood over the incident for a proper period and then, if mother and
daughter thought it best, they would follow Anson to Pensacola. On
his part he apologized with sincerity and dignity – that was all; with
every card in her hand Mrs. Legendre was unable to establish any
advantage over him. He made no promises, showed no humility, only
delivered a few serious comments on life which brought him off with
rather a moral superiority at the end. When they came South three
weeks later, neither Anson in his satisfaction nor Paula in her relief at
the reunion realized that the psychological moment had passed
forever.
IV
He dominated and attracted her, and at the same time filled her
with anxiety. Confused by his mixture of solidity and self-
indulgence, of sentiment and cynicism – incongruities which her
gentle mind was unable to resolve – Paula grew to think of him as
two alternating personalities. When she saw him alone, or at a formal
party, or with his casual inferiors, she felt a tremendous pride in his
strong, attractive presence, the paternal, understanding stature of his
mind. In other company she became uneasy when what had been a