Hahn - Francie

Francie

Off to London

Emily Hahn

CHAPTER 1

The whole world was white, save for the road where they had parked. The moon had just set but the fields and hedges were still dim and greenish under the darkening sky. Snow covered the ground on either side of the car and made the trees soft and plump. The road was sharply black between the banks, and water, freezing again after a slight thaw, gleamed in puddles along the ruts.

Francie stared through the misty windshield and sighed. She cuddled her chin into the collar of her coat and spoke to the boy behind the wheel. I hate to think of it, Glenn, she said. Months and months more of this.

Whats wrong with this? Glenn Stevens demanded. Winters swell; there isnt nearly so much doing in the summer. All the shows come out to Chicago soon. Well get in for some of them. And weve had a lot of good skating already.

I just dont like cold weather. Some day, said Francie dreamily, Ill go and settle down in Florida, or some South Sea isle. Thats better, come to think of itTahiti. Wouldnt you like Tahiti, Glenn?

I like Jefferson in the wintertime, said Glenn staunchly. I guess I like the Middle West. Always been glad to get back after a trip away.

Lucky you, never yearning for what you cant have. How can you ever bring yourself to leave it, and go to State next fall?

He chose to ignore the mockery in her voice; he answered simply. Thats easy; youre going to State. The whole gangs going, almost. If it wasnt that I knew youd be there, I wouldnt be so keen on college. Not that Dad would let me quit, he added as an afterthought. Ive got to go somewhere, he says, and thats flat. But Im not like you, Francie, I like Jefferson well enough to stay right hereso long as youre here too. He looked at her, peering in the dark and frowning at a thought which had assailed him. You havent told me finally about Prom, by the way, he said.

Havent I? Francie looked in the opposite direction and spoke with an artificial lightness.

You know darn well you havent. What about it? Are you coming?

Bill asked me yesterday, she said very softly, so softly she nearly whispered. It was one of her most appealing, most unexpected little mannerisms.

The boy sat up straight and Francie stole a look at him in the faint light from the dashboard. Glenn wasnt the handsomest boy in her crowd, perhaps, but she liked the solid look of him. He was more grown up than any of the others, she decided, and for that very reason her baiting of him seemed more enticingly dangerous. She could never be quite sure that Glenn wouldnt slap her down one of these days. Figuratively speaking, of course.

If he noted her quick scrutiny he gave no sign and Francie spoke softly in answer to his question: I said Id go.

Oh, for gosh sakes! He waited, breathing hard, before bursting out again. Of all the low-down tricks. I ought to push you right out of this car and make you walk home, Francie Nelson.

She opened her eyes wide, looking at him with a pathos that might possibly have been real. She was very pretty in this dim light; her dark blue eyes seemed enormous, and her brown hair held shadows in its soft curls. Her expression was placatory, but Glenn would not understand it; he started the car and steered it with exaggerated caution between the deep splashing ruts of water until they came to the high road. Then he turned toward town, wordlessly.

Where are you going? asked Francie, whose soft tones might be concealing trepidation.

Im taking you home, right now.

She rather liked the reaction she was getting. They said nothing more as the car entered the outskirts of town. Francie pulled a vanity case out of her pocket and studied her face in the mirror, peering in snatches when they drove past the lamps of Main Street. Going by the jewelers she noted the time was twelve-thirty. Maybe Aunt Norah wont be sitting up, she commented in lightly ironic tones. Oh, no!

Glenn didnt reply, and she glanced at his profile. He looked firm-lipped and stony. She felt she had gone too far; suddenly she reached out and took his arm.

Dont, said Glenn, keeping his eyes on the road. He shook off her hand.

No, listen, Glenn. I was only kidding. I didnt tell him Id go with him. I dont know who Im going with yet, honestly. I just wanted to get a rise out of you.

Well, you did, all right, said Glenn. He still sounded grim and unyielding. Anyway, why dont you know yet who youre going with? Is it so hard to make up your mind as all that?

Yes, said Francie with a burst of honesty. Frankly it is. Im not even sure Ill go at all, if Aunt Norah goes on holding out about the dress. If I cant have that dress

You never know what you want, said Glenn. One of these days youll find you cant pick and choose the way youre used to, and boy, wouldnt I like to be there to see it. Abruptly he braked the car at the side of the road, and turned and looked at her curiously.

What are you thinking about? she asked.

Im sort of summing you up, he said. Youre neat, all right. You dont need me to tell you that. But I cant figure out how you get to be such a nuisance. Youre no better-looking than a lot of the otherseven if you probably will be Beauty Queen, just because youre popular. Now Mary, for instance; Mary can run rings around you. And Gretta

I know all about Gretta, said Francie tartly. Its too cold to sit here having a row, Glenn. If you wouldnt mind taking me home now, so Aunt Norah wont worry

In a minute, in a minute. The boy settled down, leaning on the wheel as if he had all the time in the world. His tone was cool and detached; it made Francie uneasy. Youre reasonably good-looking, yes, but not as good as all that. I dont know. I just dont see why youre the most popular girl in school.

Well anyway, you admit I am. Thats something. Indignation sharpened her voice. If Im so horrible, why do you bother me so much? Thats what I can never understand.

Youre not horrible, exactly.

Thanks for that much. Now please take me home.

Youre spoiled, said Glenn as if to himself. Just spoiled. I dont know what it is; maybe we all let you get away with murder because you were always sort of romantic. Coming into Jefferson the way you did, your Mother dead and everybody remembering what a swell guy your Dad was, and so you seemed way ahead of the other girls even thenNew York clothes and all that. I remember how you started out right away, doing exactly what you liked with us, wrapping us round your little finger. And we all let you. We still let you. He sat back, sighing, turned the key of the motor, and started the car again. Francie could think of nothing to say, which made her angrier than ever. Whats more, well go on the same way, he said. I can see it. Youll get away with murder up at State too. Sometimes I wonder what your old man thinks about it all. If he lived here all the time, hed see.

Pops satisfied, which evidently is a lot more than you are, said Francie.

He doesnt know you like I do. He only sees you once in a while. Francie, it would do you all the good in the world to have the tar whaled out of you.

Big he-man, she said mockingly. Want to try it, Humphrey Bogart?

Me? Oh, no. Count me out. But some day youre going to be reformed. Youll meet somebody who wont let you walk all over him. Well They drew up before a pleasant-looking house set back in a green lawn. I was going to say I want to be there when it happens, but I dont, said Glenn.

Thanks for a wonderful time, said Francie. She took hold of the door-handle, and Glenn moved suddenly, pulling her towards him with his arm around her neck.

Francie! Im sorry I bawled you out, he muttered.