OCR Text |
Show Nettie, Page 91 voice animated and vital. She asked dozens of questions and the three worldly people were bemused and gentle with her obvious naivete. The food was good and different, but Nettie hardly remembered tasting any of it as her eyes and ears were too full of the marvelous newness of everything to allow a third sense any reaction at all. They talked long past the time the dishes were cleared away. Only coffee cups remained on the table though Nettie's was turned discreetly upside down. She needed no stimulant on this special night and regretted when Mr. Holms rose at last signalling an end to the evening. "Come along, wife, let our young friend get some rest. She will have a big day tomorrow." Mrs. Tex rose at once and extended her hand to Nettie. "You must remember you have two more friends here in Cody, my dear. Please come to us if there is anything you need." She smiled ple^rantly and was obviously sincere in her offer. Mr. Holms nodded his approval and grasped his wife by the elbow, steering her gently toward the door. The Colonel arose also and walked Nettie back to the lobby. "Oh, Colonel, thank you for the nicest evening I've ever had," she bubbled. "You're entirely welcome, angel. I'm glad it was nice for you, because tomorrow you begin your working career and it could be very difficult for you," the Colonel warned her. "I can do it. I can do anything if I only want to badly enough," Nettie spoke with quiet conviction, and the Colonel knew there was good |