Oh, so youre Mr. Clyde Griffiths, observed Zella Shuman. My, you look a lot like your cousin, dont you? I see him driving down Central Avenue ever so often. Walter has been telling us all about you. Do you like Lycurgus?
The way she said Walter, together with something intimate and possessive in the tone of her voice, caused Clyde to feel at once that she must feel rather closer to and freer with Dillard than he himself had indicated. A small scarlet bow of velvet ribbon at her throat, two small garnet earrings in her ears, a very trim and tight-fitting black dress, with a heavily flounced skirt, seemed to indicate that she was not opposed to showing her figure, and prized it, a mood which except for a demure and rather retiring poise which she affected, would most certainly have excited comment in such a place as this.
Rita Dickerman, on the other hand, was lush and blonde, with pink cheeks, light chestnut hair, and bluish gray eyes. Lacking the aggressive smartness which characterized Zella Shuman, she still radiated a certain something which to Clyde seemed to harmonize with the liberal if secret mood of her friend. Her manner, as Clyde could see, while much less suggestive of masked bravado was yielding and to him designedly so, as well as naturally provocative. It had been arranged that she was to intrigue him. Very much fascinated by Zella Shuman and in tow of her, they were inseparable. And when Clyde was introduced to her, she beamed upon him in a melting and sensuous way which troubled him not a little. For here in Lycurgus, as he was telling himself at the time, he must be very careful with whom he became familiar. And yet, unfortunately, as in the case of Hortense Briggs, she evoked thoughts of intimacy, however unproblematic or distant, which troubled him. But he must be careful. It was just such a free attitude as this suggested by Dillard as well as these girls manners that had gotten him into trouble before.
Now well just have a little ice cream and cake, suggested Dillard, after the few preliminary remarks were over, and then we can get out of here. You two had better go around together and hand out a few hellos. Then we can meet at the ice cream booth. After that, if you say so, well leave, eh? What do you say?
He looked at Zella Shuman as much as to say: You know what is the best thing to do, and she smiled and replied:
Thats right. We cant leave right away. I see my cousin Mary over there. And Mother. And Fred Bruckner. Rita and Ill just go around by ourselves for a while and then well meet you, see. And Rita Dickerman forthwith bestowed upon Clyde an intimate and possessive smile.
After about twenty minutes of drifting and browsing, Dillard received some signal from Zella, and he and Clyde paused near the ice cream booth with its chairs in the center of the room. In a few moments they were casually joined by Zella and Rita, with whom they had some ice cream and cake. And then, being free of all obligations and as some of the others were beginning to depart, Dillard observed: Lets beat it. We can go over to your place, cant we?
Sure, sure, whispered Zella, and together they made their way to the coat room. Clyde was still so dubious as to the wisdom of all this that he was inclined to be a little silent. He did not know whether he was fascinated by Rita or not. But once out in the street out of view of the church and the homing amusement seekers, he and Rita found themselves together, Zella and Dillard having walked on ahead. And although Clyde had taken her arm, as he thought fit, she maneuvered it free and laid a warm and caressing hand on his elbow. And she nudged quite close to him, shoulder to shoulder, and half leaning on him, began pattering of the life of Lycurgus.
There was something very furry and caressing about her voice now. Clyde liked it. There was something heavy and languorous about her body, a kind of ray or electron that intrigued and lured him in spite of himself. He felt that he would like to caress her arm and might if he wished that he might even put his arm around her waist, and so soon. Yet here he was, a Griffiths, he was shrewd enough to think a Lycurgus Griffiths and that was what now made a difference that made all those girls at this church social seem so much more interested in him and so friendly. Yet in spite of this thought, he did squeeze her arm ever so slightly and without reproach or comment from her.
And once in the Shuman home, which was a large old-fashioned square frame house with a square cupola, very retired among some trees and a lawn, they made themselves at home in a general living room which was much more handsomely furnished than any home with which Clyde had been identified heretofore. Dillard at once began sorting the records, with which he seemed most familiar, and to pull two rather large rugs out of the way, revealing a smooth, hardwood floor.
Theres one thing about this house and these trees and these soft-toned needles, he commented for Clydes benefit, of course, since he was still under the impression that Clyde might be and probably was a very shrewd person who was watching his every move here. You cant hear a note of this Victrola out in the street, can you, Zell? Nor upstairs, either, really, not with the soft needles. Weve played it down here and danced to it several times, until three and four in the morning and they didnt even know it upstairs, did they, Zell?
Thats right. But then Fathers a little hard of hearing. And Mother dont hear anything, either, when she gets in her room and gets to reading. But it is hard to hear at that.
Why do people object so to dancing here? asked Clyde.
Oh, they dont not the factory people not at all, put in Dillard, but most of the church people do. My uncle and aunt do. And nearly everyone else we met at the church tonight, except Zell and Rita. He gave them a most approving and encouraging glance. And theyre too broadminded to let a little thing like that bother them. Aint that right, Zell?
This young girl, who was very much fascinated by him, laughed and nodded, You bet, thats right. I cant see any harm in it.
Nor me, either, put in Rita, nor my father and mother. Only they dont like to say anything about it or make me feel that they want me to do too much of it.
Dillard by then had started a piece entitled Brown Eyes and immediately Clyde and Rita and Dillard and Zella began to dance, and Clyde found himself insensibly drifting into a kind of intimacy with this girl which boded he could scarcely say what. She danced so warmly and enthusiastically a kind of weaving and swaying motion which suggested all sorts of repressed enthusiasms. And her lips were at once wreathed with a kind of lyric smile which suggested a kind of hunger for this thing. And she was very pretty, more so dancing and smiling than at any other time.
She is delicious, thought Clyde, even if she is a little soft. Any fellow would do almost as well as me, but she likes me because she thinks Im somebody. And almost at the same moment she observed: Isnt it just too gorgeous? And youre such a good dancer, Mr. Griffiths.
Oh, no, he replied, smiling into her eyes, youre the one thats the dancer. I can dance because youre dancing with me.
He could feel now that her arms were large and soft, her bosom full for one so young. Exhilarated by dancing, she was quite intoxicating, her gestures almost provoking.
Now well put on The Love Boat, called Dillard the moment Brown Eyes was ended, and you and Zella can dance together and Rita and I will have a spin, eh, Rita?
She is delicious, thought Clyde, even if she is a little soft. Any fellow would do almost as well as me, but she likes me because she thinks Im somebody. And almost at the same moment she observed: Isnt it just too gorgeous? And youre such a good dancer, Mr. Griffiths.
Oh, no, he replied, smiling into her eyes, youre the one thats the dancer. I can dance because youre dancing with me.
He could feel now that her arms were large and soft, her bosom full for one so young. Exhilarated by dancing, she was quite intoxicating, her gestures almost provoking.
Now well put on The Love Boat, called Dillard the moment Brown Eyes was ended, and you and Zella can dance together and Rita and I will have a spin, eh, Rita?
He was so fascinated by his own skill as a dancer, however, as well as his natural joy in the art, that he could scarcely wait to begin another, but must take Rita by the arms before putting on another record, gliding here and there, doing steps and executing figures which Clyde could not possibly achieve and which at once established Dillard as the superior dancer. Then, having done so, he called to Clyde to put on The Love Boat.
But as Clyde could see after dancing with Zella once, this was planned to be a happy companionship of two mutually mated couples who would not interfere with each other in any way, but rather would aid each other in their various schemes to enjoy one anothers society. For while Zella danced with Clyde, and danced well and talked to him much, all the while he could feel that she was interested in Dillard and Dillard only and would prefer to be with him. For, after a few dances, and while he and Rita lounged on a settee and talked, Zella and Dillard left the room to go to the kitchen for a drink. Only, as Clyde observed, they stayed much longer than any single drink would have required.
And similarly, during this interval, it seemed as though it was intended even, by Rita, that he and she should draw closer to one another. For, finding the conversation on the settee lagging for a moment, she got up and apropos of nothing no music and no words motioned him to dance some more with her. She had danced certain steps with Dillard which she pretended to show Clyde. But because of their nature, these brought her and Clyde into closer contact than before very much so. And standing so close together and showing Clyde by elbow and arm how to do, her face and cheek came very close to him too much for his own strength of will and purpose. He pressed his cheek to hers and she turned smiling and encouraging eyes upon him. On the instant, his self-possession was gone and he kissed her lips. And then again and again. And instead of withdrawing them, as he thought she might, she let him remained just as she was in order that he might kiss her more.
And suddenly now, as he felt this yielding of her warm body so close to him, and the pressure of her lips in response to his own, he realized that he had let himself in for a relationship which might not be so very easy to modify or escape. Also that it would be a very difficult thing for him to resist, since he now liked her and obviously she liked him.
Chapter 9
Apart from the momentary thrill and zest of this, the effect was to throw Clyde, as before, speculatively back upon the problem of his proper course here. For here was this girl, and she was approaching him in this direct and suggestive way. And so soon after telling himself and his mother that his course was to be so different here no such approaches or relationships as had brought on his downfall in Kansas City. And yet and yet
He was sorely tempted now, for in his contact with Rita he had the feeling that she was expecting him to suggest a further step and soon. But just how and where? Not in connection with this large, strange house. There were other rooms apart from the kitchen to which Dillard and Zella had ostensibly departed. But even so, such a relationship once established! What then? Would he not be expected to continue it, or let himself in for possible complications in case he did not? He danced with and fondled her in a daring and aggressive fashion, yet thinking as he did so, But this is not what I should be doing either, is it? This is Lycurgus. I am a Griffiths, here. I know how these people feel toward me their parents even. Do I really care for her? Is there not something about her quick and easy availability which, if not exactly dangerous in so far as my future here is concerned, is not quite satisfactory too quickly intimate? He was experiencing a sensation not unrelated to his mood in connection with the lupanar in Kansas City attracted and yet repulsed. He could do no more than kiss and fondle her here in a somewhat restrained way until at last Dillard and Zella returned, whereupon the same degree of intimacy was no longer possible.
A clock somewhere striking two, it suddenly occurred to Rita that she must be going her parents would object to her staying out so late. And since Diliard gave no evidence of deserting Zella, it followed, of course, that Clyde was to see her home, a pleasure that now had been allayed by a vague suggestion of disappointment or failure on the part of both. He had not risen to her expectations, he thought. Obviously he lacked the courage yet to follow up the proffer of her favors, was the way she explained it to herself.
At her own door, not so far distant, and with a conversation which was still tinctured with intimations of some future occasions which might prove more favorable, her attitude was decidedly encouraging, even here. They parted, but with Clyde still saying to himself that this new relationship was developing much too swiftly. He was not sure that he should undertake a relationship such as this here so soon, anyhow. Where now were all his fine decisions made before coming here? What was he going to decide? And yet because of the sensual warmth and magnetism of Rita, he was irritated by his resolution and his inability to proceed as he otherwise might.
Two things which eventually decided him in regard to this came quite close together. One related to the attitude of the Griffiths themselves, which, apart from that of Gilbert, was not one of opposition or complete indifference, so much as it was a failure on the part of Samuel Griffiths in the first instance and the others largely because of him to grasp the rather anomalous, if not exactly lonely position in which Clyde would find himself here unless the family chose to show him at least some little courtesy or advise him cordially from time to time. Yet Samuel Griffiths, being always very much pressed for time, had scarcely given Clyde a thought during the first month, at least. He was here, properly placed, as he heard, would be properly looked after in the future what more, just now, at least?
And so for all of five weeks before any action of any kind was taken, and with Gilbert Griffiths comforted thereby, Clyde was allowed to drift along in his basement world wondering what was being intended in connection with himself. The attitude of others, including Dillard and these girls, finally made his position here seem strange.
However, about a month after Clyde had arrived, and principally because Gilbert seemed so content to say nothing regarding him, the elder Griffiths inquired one day:
Well, what about your cousin? Hows he doing by now? And Gilbert, only a little worried as to what this might bode, replied, Oh, hes all right. I started him off in the shrinking room. Is that all right?
Yes, I think so. Thats as good a place as any for him to begin, I believe. But what do you think of him by now?