Page 56 - tender-is-the-night

he said. ‘Her attitude toward you is very fine, I think. She
has a sort of wisdom that’s rare in America.’
‘Mother is perfect,’ she prayed.
‘I was talking to her about a plan I have—she told me
that how long you both stayed in France depended on you.’
On YOU, Rosemary all but said aloud.
‘So since things are over down here—‘
‘Over?’ she inquired.
‘Well, this is over—this part of the summer is over. Last
week Nicole’s sister left, to-morrow Tommy Barban leaves,
Monday Abe and Mary North are leaving. Maybe we’ll have
more fun this summer but this particular fun is over. I want
it to die violently instead of fading out sentimentally—that’s
why I gave this party. What I’m coming to is—Nicole and
I are going up to Paris to see Abe North off for America—I
wonder if you’d like to go with us.’
‘What did Mother say?’
‘She seemed to think it would be fine. She doesn’t want to
go herself. She wants you to go alone.’
‘I haven’t seen Paris since I’ve been grown,’ said Rose-
mary. ‘I’d love to see it with you.’
‘That’s nice of you.’ Did she imagine that his voice was
suddenly metallic? ‘Of course we’ve been excited about you
from the moment you came on the beach. That vitality, we
were sure it was professional—especially Nicole was. It’d
never use itself up on any one person or group.’
Her instinct cried out to her that he was passing her
along slowly toward Nicole and she put her own brakes on,
saying with an equal harness:

56 Tender is the Night