Chapter 19 Cynthia #2
“You still haven’t found anyone hiring here in town?”
Cynthia shrugged and tried to hold back tears. A mixture of humiliation and rage churned in her chest, and her words erupted from her more harshly than she intended.
“Not one nibble.”
Pauline squeezed her hand. “Things look bad, but it could all still turn out okay. What if you were to become engaged before the summer’s out? I’m determined to receive a proposal from Kenneth, and I bet you could do the same with Glenn.”
Cynthia shook her head, and the tears she had been so carefully holding back spilled down her cheeks. “That isn’t my idea of turning out okay.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be far better to marry well rather than to return home without anything to show for all of your hard work over the past two years?” Pauline asked.
Her friend had completely misunderstood her distress.
Pauline had not applied herself to her own studies to any greater degree than what permitted her to pass her classes.
She would not be likely to understand that even if Cynthia had to leave after only two years, she would not feel the effort had been for naught.
A hastily gotten proposal would not take the sting out of the derailment of her education, no matter how wealthy or well-connected the partner.
“We shall have to simply throw you together with Glenn whenever possible until he pops the question,” Pauline said.
Footsteps sounded from behind Cynthia’s back.
She patted her eyes with the backs of her hands, hoping to erase all signs of tears without smearing her mascara.
If only someone would come up with a waterproof mascara that wasn’t made with turpentine.
Pauline smiled and waved her hand at whoever it was standing just out of Cynthia’s sight.
“Are you all right?” Glenn asked, crossing the room in a few long strides and coming to a stop at her side.
She nodded, not trusting her voice not to crack with emotion she didn’t care to share.
“She will be once we get her paired off seriously with the right sort of young man,” Pauline said, elbowing Cynthia gently in the ribs.
Cynthia flinched. She had no intention of discussing something so private with a relative stranger, and a male one at that.
How could Glenn possibly understand the position she was in?
He surely had no trouble accessing tuition money.
Besides, as much as women were reputed to be the romantic sex, she knew that men were at least as eager to marry for love.
They could afford to by and large since a wife’s income was not to be considered when contemplating a match.
She pulled a face at her friend, hoping to silently convey her reluctance to include Glenn in the conversation, but Pauline gave no sign she understood.
“Are you looking to get married?” Glenn asked, arching an eyebrow in surprise.
Before she could answer for herself, Pauline spoke again. “Of course she is, but only to the right sort.”
Cynthia felt her face grow flushed. Pauline made her sound so grasping.
“Who did you have in mind?” he asked.
Pauline tapped a long forefinger against her chin as if she needed to give the matter thought.
“Andrew would do nicely, don’t you think?” she said.
Glenn crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “You can’t possibly want to saddle a girl as charming as Cindy with a square like Andy.”
“Andrew is a catch,” Pauline said, her smile starting to slip.
“Not for Cindy, he isn’t,” Glenn said turning towards her.
“Why not?” Pauline asked. “His family is fabulously wealthy; he’s a good dancer, and he isn’t bad looking.”
Glenn shook his head. “He’s a stick-in-the-mud. A girl like Cindy needs a guy who knows how to show her a good time.” He placed a hand on his chest. “She’s particular when it comes to men. She told me so herself.”
Cynthia didn’t want to say anything one way or the other, but she was inclined to agree with Glenn. Andrew seemed pleasant enough, but he wouldn’t distract her from what mattered. The only thing she really wanted was a job.
Pauline’s eyes narrowed. “Did you have someone else in mind?” she asked.
“Maybe,” Glenn said, leaning slightly towards Cynthia and smiling. Then he turned around and strode out the door without another word.
Pauline giggled. She turned her gaze on Cynthia. “You sly dog. It looks like you’ve made quite the impression on Glenn. Is there something you haven’t been telling me?”
Cynthia shook her head. “I can’t imagine what’s gotten into him. I’ve only spoken with him once or twice when you weren’t around.”
Pauline placed her hands on her hips. “They must have been memorable conversations.”
“Not for me, they weren’t,” Cynthia said.
“I’d say that if you just put in a bit of effort, you could have a ring on your finger before Labor Day.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.”
“Why not? Not only do I think it’s true, I hope that it is. If he gets engaged to you, my mother will stop pushing me at him.”
As if summoned by her daughter’s comments, Mrs. Mayhew appeared in the kitchen doorway, another martini glass held aloft.
“Pauline, what are you doing skulking around in the kitchen like the help? Glenn’s parents are asking after you.” She waved her daughter towards the living room, pointedly ignoring Cynthia.
Pauline turned back as she reached the doorway and winked before gliding towards the din of the party.
Cynthia turned in the opposite direction and headed into the hall.
There, on the telephone table, was a local directory.
She tucked it under her arm and started up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
There had to be somewhere on Long Pond where she could find a job.