Music in the Night (Logan 4)

with any one young man, especially one who comes

from a family of some questionable character." "What?" The little bubble of delight that had

started to fill within me suddenly popped.

"Don't interrupt, Laura. Just listen and learn.

The Logans, and my family, the Gordons, go back to

the Pilgrims, as you know. We have a strong, highly

respected lineage. We are looked up to in this

community; we are people of worth, status, and that

brings with it more responsibility. We have been and

remain models of proper behavior, models of

respectability. My father taught me years and years

ago that the first and most important and valuable

thing you own is your reputation.

"You and Cary have been born with a gift. That

gift is your family name. You've inherited literally

hundreds of years of highly valued reputation. It will

open doors for you, gain you respect, and place you

high on the ladder of status, but you have a big

responsibility, Laura, and that responsibility is to

uphold the respectability, the value of our family

name.

"Because of that," she continued, "there is a

magnifying glass over you and your actions." She

flashed a cold smile. "Up until now, you have done

nothing even to slightly tarnish our family name, and

I'd like to keep it that way. I want you to immediately

end this acquaintance. These people are not up to your

standard," she concluded. "I intend to discuss it with your father before the day is over as well," she said.

She sat back, obviously waiting for my reaction. For a moment I thought the words would get

caught in my throat and my voice wouldn't work.