THE CHILD IS THE MEANING
365
for work." And she wanted to know when Jasper was going to get
married, urging him again to marry a rich girl.
"Don't forget," she said, "it is no crime for a girl to be rich."
"I want to find a girl I like twenty-four hours a day," Jasper
said to his grandmother.
"That's right," said Seymour from the bedroom, "women are a
tough proposition. You better watch your step, Jasper!"
Seymour returned to the living room, tying his necktie with
much effort at the precise effect.
"Love 'em and leave 'em," he said to
his
nephew, who he
supposed was a philanderer just like his father.
Jasper smiled and said, "I don't have much time right now to
get very much involved."
"That's right," said Ruth Hart, who had not really understood
her son's remark or her grandson's reply, "but remember, you prom–
ised me that you were going to give me a grandchild. Mter all, Nancy
is in California, what good does it do me that she has three children,
even if she sends me pictures?"
"Don't forget your promise," said Jasper who was pleased more
than he knew that his grandmother desired him to have a child.
"What promise?" said his grandmother.
"The promise that you are not going to die until I have the
little girl I am going to name after you."
"How long do you think I can wait?" qis grandmother said.
"I am getting impatient."
"There's always time enough to die," said Jasper, and rose to
depart, full of the pleasure, animal and spiritual, which this kind of
conversation, often renewed, had given him.
Two weeks after this occasion, Jasper was summoned from
Washington. John had written him a special delivery letter in
his
schoolboy scrawl, John, and not any one else, because Rebecca felt
it wise that John should cultivate his successful cousin. The news was
of the serious illness of Ruth Hart. "I am sorry to have to upset you,"
wrote John in words that Rebecca had told him to choose, "but
Grandmother is in a serious condition and has gone to the hospital."
Jasper returned to New York and went immediately to the
hospital. He arrived at the visiting hours mentioned in· the letter, just
after two o'clock, and in the waiting room he found Seymour very
excited while Rebecca tried to appease him. "Where is the money
going to come from?" said Rebecca to Seymour.
