...
"I asked you to take this walk with me in order to tell you
something.... Johnnie, you're my friend, and that is why I don't want
you to stay at my house with us. I want you to put up at the Community
Inn, at my expense ... eat your meals with us, of course."
I was surprised. He did not want me in the house _because I was his
friend_!... in silence I waited his further explanation....
"Yes," he continued, "I want to spare you trouble ... Hildreth and I,
you see," he proceeded with painful frankness, "are quite near the
breaking point ... I don't think we'll be together very many months
longer ... and ... and ... I don't want you to become involved ... for
I'm simply desperate."
"But, Penton, how could I become involved?"
"Johnnie, you don't know women, or you wouldn't ask ... especially women
of my wife's type ... hysterical, parasitic, passionate, desperate.... I
tell you what, you stay at the inn!"
A pause;--I was startled by what he said next:
"Besides, it's time you had a mate, a real mate ... and I," he proceeded
with incredible gravity, "I have been urging Ruth, my secretary, to
take you ... you and she would be quite happy together ... she can
support herself, for instance ... that would place no economic burden on
you."
"Really, Penton!" I demurred.
I was learning how utterly bookish, how sheerly a literary man Penton
Baxter was .
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