Ruth
marvelled.
"How strong you are!" she cried; "and yet you are slight. You are
not as big as I am, but oh, how much stronger you are!"
"I have a perfect figure," said Olga calmly. "It is worth preserving.
No one admires my body so much as I do myself. I must not get fat.
When you are a fat old woman, I shall still be as I am now. You
will diet, and pray, and rave,--because you are growing old,--and
I shall do none of these things. I eat like a pig, I never pray,
and I do not believe in growing old. But you do not come to see me
about myself, Miss Clinton. You find me sitting idly with my legs
crossed, and you are surprise. I work as I dance,--very, oh, so very
hard while I am at ze task,--but with frequent periods of rest. So
I do not wear out myself too soon. It is the only way. Work for an
hour, rest for ten minutes,--relax and forget,--and you will see
how well it goes. Why do you come? Is it to talk about the baby?"
"Yes, it is, Madame Obosky. I have come to ask you to use your
influence with Mr. Percival. You--"
"But I have no influence with Mr. Percivail," interrupted the other,
staring.
Ruth flushed. "You are his friend. You--"
"Ah, yes,--but nothing more than zat.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262