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op nee a aN or eigen oo: _« ‘ i fe ‘ ‘ - 4 1 i + t i | ¥ ’ *, only a “ the delightful clothes, dresses, _ geandepclothes..87 nightdresses » Mira, Dunbar fat brovght back RS. DUNBAR re- turned to Geneva from the United States in May, 1953, and wes shocked at the ap- pearance of her daughter Melinda Maclean. She was whiter than ever, drawn and strained and _utterly apathetic. She ‘Jooked so il and wretched Mrs. Dunbar asked anxiously if there was any~ thing the matter. Melinda replies vague that there was nothing parti- cularly ‘rong. She irnplied that she iad beén lonely and worrled about money——which may have been true but was certainly quite unnecessary-- and about the servants. But Melinda’s strange apathy went very deep. Previously full of interest and excitement, even about the plans they were roaking and particularly about the steps Wire. Dunbar was to take about getting back her American passport and obtain- ing American nationality for the children,- Melinda now showed no interest in all that “Mrs. Dunbar had done. Untouched : _ presents She did not even trouble to yead any of the voluminous correspondence Mrs. Dunbar had with solicitors and the State Department. Similarly, although express~ ing great gratitude, she made rfunctory [nspection of for her, and most of thera 1 remained in their igi ackages — witch, is Sresumed 2 Melinda away with her. And she had par tievlarly asked that her mother should buy her these things, which were, she said, much better and cheaper in New York than in Geneva. oF During the previous months much discussion had taken place on the question of a job or Melinda. She had no idea what she wanted to or could do, but she was. insistent that wrk inn ‘she should do something. At one time she had been interested in photography and Mrs. Dunbar thought she might try to become a specialist in. photography of children. The new dress So Mrs. Dunbar bought Melinda a Rollieflex. camera, This, too, remained untoud! in its case, . But fife went on, Melinda had made new friends durin Mrs. Dunbar’s absence an went out to cocktail parties and dinners more frequently than ghe had since her Cairo days. Bot she in no way regained her spirits. Another littie incident, strangely reminiscent of @ similar happening in Washing- ton, vecurred soos after Mr. Dunbar’s return. _ Geneva is by no means a “dressy” place, and at most of the dinner patties Melinda attended the men wore dey suits or at the most dinner jackets and black ties, and the women simple evening frocks. But for one party te which she was invited Melinda was asked to wear full evening dress, as some of the other women had new ball dresses which they wished to show off, Melinda Mrs. Dunbar, who, with her usual generosity, insisted, that Melinda should : have a suitable dress sent from Paris. Together they tel “jook them “lovely; she mentioned this to te thelr Paris dreasrna: {mn a few days the dress Melinda tried it on: “adored it hua, in & wardrobe. went to the pay in a black frock, And the nt still unworn, waa the ¢ Dunbar found when #: pack, « month after pad disappeared, to clos epartment, All this time nothing which, even in the lg that she then knew. Mr: could afterwards ren: paving any significance The hot weather carr June 10 Melinda bo tiekets for Majorca. T term ended an June 36 were ali due to leave t ing day. A letter was MacKillop (the Americ who had invited them t o‘tetling him they woulc ing at Cala Ratjada o1 Ag the ‘time drew boys’ excitement. rose Joved the seaside and talked of little else. Melinda appeared §& and quiet, but also be flocking forward change. - Then, two or three « the end of the month. happened. What if % not know. But one Dunbar, wha was an bad sleeper, Was. reac bed long after midn she heard Melinda w. lessly about in. the t Sleepl nigh: So. she got un and see her, “ Whal's Melindaf* she ask: you sleep? Have yo on your mind?” Melinda looked. st in silence for a fe Then she said: “ OF don't know quite hot but Ive changed fT feel 1 need some fF znd 1 want to take up to Saanenmos weeks before we go Mrs. Dunbar wa. She and Melinda k: well how excitedly , been looking forwat and although they immediatgizesdiping, this was | ‘there 4vaa to sno