"
"All right. You're sure you don't object?"
"My dear Bones, why should I possibly?"
The doctor looked sulky. Benis smiled.
"Look here, John," he said after a reflective pause. "Desire is as
direct as a child. If she calls you by your first name you can
depend that she feels no embarrassment about it. So why should you?
And there's another thing. She may not find everything quite easy in
Bainbridge. She will need your frank and unembarrassed friendship--
as well as mine."
"Yours?"
"Yes. You understand the situation, don't you? At least as far as
understanding is necessary. And you are the only one who will
understand. So you will be of more use to her than anyone else,
except me. I am going to do my best to make her happy. It's my job.
I am not turning it over to you. But there may be times when I shall
fail. There may be times when I shan't know that she isn't happy--a
lack of perspective or something. If ever there comes a time like
that and you know of it, don't spare me. I have taken the
responsibility of her youth upon my shoulders and I am not going to
shirk. It will be her happiness first--at all costs."
"People aren't usually made happy at all costs," said the doctor
wisely.
"They may be, if they do not know the price."
"I see."
"You'll know where I stand a bit better when you've read a letter
you'll find waiting for you at home. But here is the whole point of
the matter--I had to get desire away from that devilish old parent
of hers.
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