Part 24 (1/2)

”The Englishman shook his head.

”'Philadelphy?'

”'No,' was the reply.

”'Chicago?'

”Another negative answer.

”'Waal, where be you from?'

”'London.'

”'Whew!' and the cracker gave a long whistle. 'What brought you all the way from London to Loneville?'

”'I came to amuse myself.'

”'Ter amuse yerself, heh! Well, that is mighty curious. What d' you do when you're to home?'

”'Nothing.'

”'How d' you live, anyway?'

”'My father supports me.'

”'Don't do nothing when you're to home, and yer father keeps ye?'

”'Yes.'

”'Waal, I'd like to ask ye jest one more question. What'ud you do 'f your father should bust?'

”That is my theory. I don't think any man should be brought up in such a way that he would have nothing to fall back on if his wealth should fail him. Give every young man an employment of some sort, no matter how rich he may be, and he will know what to do when his father 'busts'.”

Marion, somehow, found herself agreeing with her husband's views. His ideas had always seemed so restricted before. She wondered why he was becoming so sensible.

Francois cleared the table and changed the gla.s.ses; the coffee was brought and Duncan and Roswell lighted their cigars. Marion usually remained during the smoking when the party was small, so the talk went on uninterruptedly, Roswell continuing his easy flow of anecdote and argument, and turning the conversation as one subject after another was suggested to his mind. Marion caught herself occasionally looking at her husband with a feeling of admiration, and wondered why she had never before discovered his charm of manner. She felt that he occasionally turned his keen eyes toward her as though he understood her thoughts, and she was afraid that he might be able to see her heart.

”I read a case in the paper this morning which impressed me sadly,” said Roswell, putting down his empty coffee cup. ”I knew the people and it seemed but the outcome of my fears.”

”What was it?” asked Marion.

”The wife of a man I have known in business has left him. The husband went to Decatur on Thursday, and when he returned he found that she had fled the night before with her music teacher.”

”It was probably a good riddance, wasn't it,” said Duncan.

Marion thought these words unnecessarily harsh and she found herself looking appealingly at Roswell for a charitable reply.

”I can't say that,” replied Roswell. ”The trouble was that they had nothing in common. He was a man who began life as a page on the Board of Trade. By careful attention to business he worked his way up until he is now a very successful broker. He has, however, absolutely no social position, and no prospect of attaining one. When, two years ago, he went East, and married a girl who belonged to a good Syracuse family and brought her West, it must have been a bitter disappointment to the young wife to find herself denied the recognition which she was accustomed to receive at home. She was alone in a strange city. Her husband was away most of the time, and he was so completely wrapped up in business that his wife was left to her own resources. Can you condemn her entirely for doing as she did? It is all very well to behave if we have never been tempted, when, perhaps, under the same circ.u.mstances, we might act no better ourselves. For my part I think the husband is probably as much at fault as the wife.”

Marion felt her heart leap with grat.i.tude when she heard these words.

Her husband's voice had softened as he spoke them, and his eyes wore a sad, thoughtful expression.

”I don't think you are right,” said Duncan, draining a gla.s.s of claret.