Mr. Bridge_ A Novel - Evan S. Connell [124]
Mr. Bridge asked what fraternity Gil Davis belonged to.
Mrs. Bridge was not sure; she thought Carolyn had mentioned that he did not belong to a fraternity, but it would be best to ask Carolyn about that.
How long had she been acquainted with this boy?
Mrs. Bridge was not sure.
Mr. Bridge announced that he was not going to have his daughter running around with every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Mrs. Bridge said, “Goodness, you’re behaving as though it was my fault!”
He said, “I don’t know whose fault this is.”
“The boy is probably all right,” she said.
“You may think so, but I do not,” he said furiously. “These state universities are jam-packed with opportunists. Now, I am not wealthy, but one day what I have will belong to you and the children, and I do not intend to let some no-account get his hands on it. I have worked too hard for too many years.”
“Well, I do think you’re being unreasonable. You’ve never so much as laid eyes on the boy.”
“Nor do I intend to. Carolyn promised me she would give back that ring.”
“I was listening. I could hear every word. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the neighborhood heard.”
“Never mind that. Did she say anything to you about giving this fellow back his ring?”
“Not in so many words. But she promised, so I’m certain she will. I believe, though, she did mention something about waiting until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! Why does she have to wait until tomorrow? Why isn’t she returning it as soon as she gets back to school? There’s something funny going on here, and I don’t like it.”
“I imagine she’s simply too overwrought to speak to him right away. Honestly, Walter, you could have been a little more understanding.”
“I don’t know what has gotten into Carolyn,” he said as though he had not heard. “It’s costing me a considerable sum of money to put that girl through school. I sent her up there to learn something, not fiddle around. Does she think I’m made of money? Does she think I’m paying the bills so she can chase around day and night with this whatever his name is? Either she straightens out or I’ll know the reason why. I will not put up with this much longer, believe you me!”
“I’m sure she’s doing her best. Her grades are quite good, really.”
“They should be better. She ought to be at the head of her class in the university just as she was in high school. She has the brains for it.”
“She certainly does.”
“There is no excuse for her behavior. If there is one thing on this earth that exasperates me it is seeing some person fail to make use of his or her natural ability. She is five times as bright as most of the kids in that university and she is not making use of it. Instead, she spends all her time chasing around with somebody we never heard of and know nothing about.”
“I don’t believe she spends all of her time with him.”
“Who is the boy?”
“Don’t glare at me, if you please. I’m not responsible.”
“I don’t know the first thing about that boy. Where did she meet him?”
“Why didn’t you ask her instead of simply giving her the dickens? She would have told you if you had asked. All you did was shout at her. No wonder she was upset.”
“She is too young to think about getting married. Young people today have no idea what they’re getting into. They think they can go ahead and marry as soon as they feel like it. It isn’t as simple as that. There are children, for one thing.”
“You needn’t tell me,” said Mrs. Bridge.
“What in God’s name does the boy think he’s going to do after he gets out of school. Does he expect me to support him?”
“Walter, really!”
“How do we know? If she cares for this boy why is she afraid to bring him here so we can have a look at