Mr. Bridge_ A Novel - Evan S. Connell [92]
Then he went on to other matters, saying that she looked fine although a few pounds underweight, that he had been pleased to learn she was getting along all right in her job, that he liked her apartment—which was not true, he did not approve of the location, though the rooms had been cleaner and neater than he expected—and that if she needed anything she should not hesitate to let him know. In New York he had not asked if she needed money; she was wearing new clothes, the apartment was adequately furnished, and she had given no indication that she was having a hard time. If she was underweight and somewhat pale this was probably because she considered it fashionable.
He summarized the news from Kansas City. The weather had been very warm. Douglas slipped and fell while running around the swimming pool and knocked himself out. They had been afraid he might have a brain concussion, but Dr. McIntyre reported that he had the skull of a gorilla. Carolyn was spending almost every day on the golf course. She was getting very good, beating nearly everybody who played against her. There had been a series of robberies in the country-club district—the Ralph Porters’ home had been looted and Mrs. Porter lost a ruby necklace inherited from her grandmother. Virginia Catlett, whom Ruth might or might not know—the family lived in the large English stucco next door to the Montgomerys—had become engaged. Downtown traffic was getting so bad that he was giving some thought to hiring a chauffeur.
This seemed to be all the news worth mentioning and he was about to close the letter, but after reading it he felt he had not satisfactorily answered her accusation that he disliked Jews. It seemed to him she had treated him unfairly, and he could not get over a sense of shock at the realization that she considered him prejudiced. Apparently she had thought this for a long time.
He continued writing: I am acquainted with a number of fine Jewish people. I am sure you know Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson, who have been friends of ours for a number of years. In fact, your mother and I were invited to their daughter’s wedding. The Jacobsons are fine, upstanding people. Naturally I cannot know their private opinion of me; however, I would be most surprised to learn that I had ever said or done a single thing which offended them. If so, the error was inadvertent. Mr. Jacobson also happens to be an attorney, with the result that I have had a number of occasions to deal with him. I can honestly state that to my knowledge he has never in any way whatsoever reflected discredit upon his race. You may also know the Lepkoffs, who have lived in that enormous Tudor home on Verona Terrace for a good many years and whom we see occasionally. They, too, are fine people. He is a top executive at Burstein-Morris. They are a credit to the neighborhood. I believe your accusation is totally unfounded. I do not know what has given rise to this impression that you have of me, but I think you ought to go over your thoughts “with a fine tooth comb.” It appears you are not being objective. As I mentioned to you in New York, I had the greatest respect and liking for Milton Glatz as well as for his son Harvey. When I knew them they were both decent, hard-working men. If I did not send a statement to Harvey this was in no way connected with his Jewishness. I merely wished to be of some assistance. If I have done something wrong I am sorry, but I do not feel I have committed a crime. You state that Harvey Glatz thinks highly of me. (I was gratified to hear this.) I believe if you were to inquire whether I have under any circumstances given him or his father cause for believing I dislike the Jewish people he would respond in the negative.
He closed the letter