Despite the silvery, soft breeze blowing in from the
ocean, I felt as though I had fallen into a furnace. My
face was flushed, my heart, although pounding,
seemed to have sunken in my chest, the thump, thump,
thump barely felt through my body. I shook my head. "I don't know what you've been told, Grandma,
but it's all a mistake. Robert Royce is a very, very nice
young man, Grandma. He--"
"He comes from a family of innkeepers," she
said, practically spitting out the words, as if they were
bitter in her mouth. "Do you know what an innkeeper
is, Laura? How they started to be? These are people
who had nothing, no family name, no reputation.
Practically destitute, they open their own homes to
strangers, clean up after them, wash their toilets and
sinks, serve them food, cater to the wishes of
complete and utter strangers, and worst of all, they
contribute, are responsible for the pollution and destruction of the Cape.
"Fine homes, beautiful landscapes are all being
marred by these . . . these motel and hotel chains. Anyone who can afford the price of a cheap bed can come here and enjoy what we, who built this, who founded it, created and made elegant. You have no business consorting with someone of that ilk, Laura. I absolutely forbid you to continue seeing this . . . this
person. He will only bring you down."
"Please, Grandma," I said, choking back my
tears, "don't talk like that:'
She tightened her lips.
"You must get a hold of yourself, Laura. You
must become
mature, strong, beat down any foolish
little lusts and remember who you are.
"Unfortunately," she said with a deep sigh,
"we've already had a terrible time maintaining our
family honor because of my sister and your Uncle