The Spanish Earth, June–August 1937

Abstract

Before leaving Paris, Ernest had informed a NANA correspondent that he planned to return to Spain with his wife, a convenient cover story designed to hide his new relationship with Martha from Pauline. Ernest had cabled Pauline on 24 April to let her know that he would arrive in New York on 18 May. Pauline, who had spent a depressing period in Key West and Mexico without having her husband near her in bed, was so elated by the news that she threw a dinner party for nineteen guests, some of whom lingered until four o’clock in the morning. Pauline also had a surprise in store for the returning war correspondent: Toby Bruce was in the process of building a tall brick wall around their Whitehead Street property ostensibly in order to keep out prying tourists.