Read Rodin's Debutante for Free Online Page B

completed by September, latest.
    I'm not sure about that, Tommy, Bert said. It'll be hard getting all our ducks in a row ... Bert wondered where in the world Tommy Ogden had hatched such a scheme. Only once had Bert ever heard him talk about education and that was this very evening, another context entirely, something about a headmaster—my God, how many schools had Tommy been to?—from Ipswich. He never went anywhere except for shooting expeditions and South Side Chicago for evenings Chez Siracusa. He never read a newspaper. He had no thirst whatever for information unless the information related to firearms or wild animals. He knew no educators or, for that matter, boys. And then Bert wondered if it was one of the tarts Chez Siracusa making mischief, talking sadly about opportunities that had come and gone owing to bad luck, bad cards, unreliable men, and a shabby education. Maybe one of them had said something about school, a nasty incident that had prevented a career on the stage or a Michigan Avenue dress shop.
    You can have all the help you need, Tommy said.
    Bert nodded.
    You're in charge. I'm giving you an open checkbook.
    Bravo, Tommy, Susan Billington said. A wonderful idea.
    Are you going to be headmaster, Tommy? Marie's voice was a silky purr filtered through a cat's malicious grin. I can't wait, she went on. Headmaster Tommy Ogden. It's a simply thrilling idea. I'm especially looking forward to my duties as headmaster's wife. Are we going to give your boys afternoon tea?
    That's idiotic, Tommy said. I'm giving them Ogden Hall. I'm giving them an endowment. I'm giving them Bert. And I'm walking away. I will have nothing more to do with Ogden Hall except make damned sure that it doesn't fail.
    It's going to cost a lot of money, Bert said.
    I've got a lot of money, Tommy said.
    I don't think you realize—
    Don't tell me what I can or can't realize. This school can't cost more than I've got. You worry about the school and I'll worry about the money.
    Yoo-hoo, Tommy. I have a question, Marie said, raising her hand as if she were a student in a classroom eager to participate in the discussion. Who's "them"? Who exactly are you giving Ogden Hall to? Who are the lucky beneficiaries?
    That's Bert's job, Tommy said.
    What do you think, Bert? Are you going to put an ad in the
Trib?
Marie smiled brilliantly, false to the core. You'll need a board of trustees along with Tommy's second-to-none faculty and the wonderful wellborn boys who'll constitute the first class. Where do they come from? All those boys so hell-bent on discovering how the world works. Marie took a moment to look around the vast dining room with its portraits of Lily and Henry flanked by sporting scenes, men with firearms stalking elk, elephant, duck, and pheasant. One fine Indian miniature proposed a maharajah skewering a tiger with a ten-foot lance. She tried to imagine refectory tables and raucous adolescent voices, a solemn grace before meals. Boys throwing buns.
    I will make inquiries, Bert said quietly.
    Stay out of this, Marie. You don't know what you're talking about. Tommy reached again for the whiskey decanter.
    It's a fine gesture, Susan Billington said.
    Bert Marks coughed and said he had to be going.
    Good luck, Tommy, Bill van Horne said.
    You could be one of the trustees, Billy. Man of your experience and tact, you'd be a natural. Tommy and I would be grateful. Help us out in this way.
    I'm retired, Bill van Horne said.
    It's a retiree's job, Bert said.
    Yes, Tommy added. It's time we all gave something back.
    Back to what? Bill said.
    Back,
Tommy said and seemed to falter at giving further explanation. To Illinois, he said finally.
    Well, Bill said, we can think about that later when everything's in order. When Bert has his ducks in a row.
    Forget about the ducks, Tommy said.
    What about me, Tommy? Marie's voice was seductive. Can't I have a role? I could take charge as the school nurse, all decked out in a white uniform and a wimple. I