They contrived, whenever possible, to excuse
themselves from participation in their aunt's deplored
gaieties; the Brimley Bomefield headaches became famous.
``And one day the nieces came to the conclusion that, as
they would have expressed it, `no useful purpose would be
served' by their continued attendance on a relative who had
so thoroughly emancipated herself from the sheltering
protection of their wings. The aunt bore the announcement
of their departure with a cheerfulness that was almost
disconcerting.
`` `It's time you went home and had those headaches seen
to by a specialist,' was her comment on the situation.
``The homeward journey of the Brimley Bomefields was a
veritable retreat from Moscow, and what made it the more
bitter was the fact that the Moscow, in this case, was not
overwhelmed with fire and ashes, but merely extravagantly
over-illuminated.
``From mutual friends and acquaintances they sometimes get
glimpses of their prodigal relative, who has settled down
into a confirmed gambling maniac, living on such salvage of
income as obliging moneylenders have left at her disposal.
``So you need not be surprised,'' concluded Clovis, ``if
they do wear a depressed look in public.
Pages:
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163