Children of the Ritz

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This is about the Penningtons, who lived out on Long Island. They had money to burn, but they didn’t; they put it in stocks and bonds and Coral Gables instead. And when the time came for them to pay the income tax, they began to wish they had burned it after all. But it was too late then; so all they could do with what was left over was to buy more motor cars and more platinum chandeliers and more of Florida.

Mrs. Pennington — Diane — was a stunning woman, with perfectly milk-white hair, black brows, and the complexion of a well-nourished pink cupid. She took Italian lessons that she never quite caught up with, and called her husband by his last name in moments of tenderness and by his given name when she was displeased with him.

Mrs. Pennington — Diane — had a daughter named Angela and Mr. Pennington had a son named Gilbert. I mention this because they always spoke of them as “your daughter Angela” and “your son Gilbert” whenever there was any matter that required a family conference, as, for instance, Gilbert’s frequent expulsions from school.

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