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She was so popular because she possessed charm； and because she played
no favorites。 To the grooms who held the ponies on the sidelines her
manner was just as simple and interested as it was to the gilded youths
who came to win the championship cups and remained to try to win Helen。
She was just as genuinely pleased to make a four at tennis with the 〃kids〃
as to take tea on the veranda of the club…house with the matrons。 To each
her manner was always as though she were of their age。 When she met the
latter on the beach road； she greeted them riotously and joyfully by their
maiden names。 And the matrons liked it。 In comparison the deference
shown them by the other young women did not so strongly appeal。
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〃When I'm jogging along in my station wagon；〃 said one of them； 〃and
Helen shrieks and waves at me from her car； I feel as though I were twenty；
and I believe that she is really sorry I am not sitting beside her； instead of
that good…looking Latimer man； who never wears a hat。 Why does he
never wear a hat？ Because he knows he's good…looking； or because Helen
drives so fast he can't keep it on？〃
〃Does he wear a hat when he is not with Helen？〃 asked the new arrival。
〃That might help some。〃
〃We will never know；〃 exclaimed the young matron； 〃he never leaves
her。〃
This was so true that it had become a public scandal。 You met them so
many times a day driving together； motoring together； playing golf
together； that you were embarrassed for them and did not know which way
to look。 But they gloried in their shame。 If you tactfully pretended not to
see them； Helen shouted at you。 She made you feel you had been caught
doing something indelicate and underhand。
The mothers of Fair Harbor were rather slow in accepting young
Latimer。 So many of their sons had seen Helen shake her head in that
inarticulate； worried way； and look so sorry for them； that any strange
young man who apparently succeeded where those who had been her
friends for years had learned they must remain friends； could not hope to
escape criticism。 Besides； they did not know him： he did not come from
Boston and Harvard； but from a Western city。 They were told that at home；
at both the law and the game of politics； he worked hard and successfully；
but it was rather held against him by the youth of Fair Harbor that he
played at there games； not so much for the sake of the game as for exercise。
He put aside many things； such as whiskey and soda at two in the morning；
and bridge all afternoon； with the remark： 〃I find it does not tend toward
efficiency。〃 It was a remark that irritated and； to the minds of the men at
the country clubs； seemed to place him。 They liked to play polo because
they liked to play polo； not because it kept their muscles limber and their
brains clear。
〃Some Western people were telling me；〃 said one of the matrons； 〃that
he wants to be the next lieutenant…governor。 They say he is very ambitious
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and very selfish。〃
〃Any man is selfish；〃 protested one who for years had attempted to
marry Helen； 〃who wants to keep Helen to himself。 But that he should
wish to be a lieutenant…governor； too； is rather an anticlimax。 It makes one
lose sympathy。〃
Latimer went on his way without asking any sympathy。 The
companionship of Helen Page was quite sufficient。 He had been working
overtime and was treating himself to his first vacation in yearshe was
younghe was in love and he was very happy。 Nor was there any question；
either； that Helen Page was happy。 Those who had known her since she
was a child could not remember when she had not been happy； but these
days she wore her joyousness with a difference。 It was in her eyes； in her
greetings to old friends： it showed itself hourly in courtesies and
kindnesses。 She was very kind to Latimer； too。 She did not deceive him。
She told him she liked better to be with him than with any one else；it
would have been difficult to deny to him what was apparent to an entire
summer colony；but she explained that that did not mean she would marry
him。 She announced this when the signs she knew made it seem necessary。
She announced it in what was for her a roundabout way； by remarking
suddenly that she did not intend to marry for several years。
This brought Latimer to his feet and called forth from him remarks so
eloquent that Helen found it very difficult to keep her own。 She as though
she had been caught in an undertow and was being whirled out to sea。
When； at last； she had regained her breath； only because Latimer had
paused to catch his； she shook her head miserably。
〃The trouble is；〃 she complained； 〃there are so many think the same
thing！〃
〃What do they think？〃 demanded Latimer。
〃That they want to marry me。〃
Checked but not discouraged； Latimer attacked in force。
〃I can quite believe that；〃 he agreed； 〃but there's this important
difference： no matter how much a man wants to marry you； he can't LOVE
you as I do！〃
〃That's ANOTHER thing they think；〃 sighed Helen。
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〃I'm sorry to be so unoriginal；〃 snapped Latimer。
〃PLEASE don't！〃 pleaded Helen。 〃I don't mean to be unfeeling。 I'm not
unfeeling。 I'm only trying to be fair。 If I don't seem to take it to heart； it's
because I know it does no good。 I can see how miserable a girl must be if
she is loved by one man and can't make up her mind whether or not she
wants to marry him。 But when there's so many she just stops worrying； for
she can't possibly marry them all。〃
〃ALL！〃 exclaimed Latimer。 〃It is incredible that I have undervalued
you； but may I ask how many there are？〃
〃I don't know；〃 sighed Helen miserably。 〃There seems to be something
about me that〃
〃There is！〃 interrupted Latimer。 〃I've noticed it。 You don't have to tell
me about it。 I know that the Helen Page habit is a damned difficult habit to
break！〃
It cannot be said that he made any violent effort to break it。 At least；
not one that was obvious to Fair Harbor or to Helen。
One