Part 21 (1/2)

He flung himself down on his chair with an exclamation. He knew he had to think carefully about something which he had never considered before, and that was his wife's character.

Of course he liked to think about Genevieve--; of her beauty, her abilities, her charms; and particularly he liked to think about her love for him.

A week ago he would have met the present situation very simply. He would have put his arm about her and said: ”My darling, I think I'd a little rather you dropped this sort of thing for the present.” And that would have been enough.

But he knew it would not be enough now. He would have to have a reason, a case.

”Heavens,” he thought, ”imagine having to talk to one's wife as if she were the lawyer for the other side.”

He did not notice that he was reproaching Genevieve for being too impersonal, too unemotional and not irrational enough.

When he went home at five, he had thought it out. He put his head into the sitting-room, where Alys was ensconced behind the tea-kettle.

”Come in, George dear,” she called graciously, ”and let me give you a really good cup of tea. It's some I've just ordered for you, and I think you'll find it an improvement on what you've been accustomed to.” George shut the door again, pretending he had not heard; but he had had time enough to note that dear little Eleanor was building houses out of his most treasured books.

The memory of his quarrel with his wife had been partly obliterated by memories of so many other quarrels during the day that it was only when he was actually standing in her room that he remembered how very bitter their parting had been.

He stood looking at her doubtfully, and it was she who came forward and put her arms about him. They clung to each other like two children who have been frightened by a nightmare.

”We mustn't quarrel again, George,” she said. ”I've had a real, true, old-fas.h.i.+oned pain in my heart all day. But I think I understand better now than I did. I lunched with Betty and she made me see.”

”What did Betty make you see?” asked George nervously, for he had not perfect confidence in Miss Sheridan's visions.

”That it was all a question of efficiency. She said that in business a man's stenographer is just an instrument to make his work easier, and if for any reason at all that instrument does not suit him he is justified in getting rid of it, and in finding one that does.”

”Betty is very generous,” he said coldly. He wanted to hear his wife say that she had not thought him pompous; it was very hard to be thankful for a mere ethical rehabilitation.

Part of his thought-out plan was that Genevieve must herself tell him of the Woman's Forum's investigation; it would not do for him to let her know he had heard of it through a political eavesdropper. So after a moment he added casually:

”And what else did Betty have to say?”

”Nothing much.”

His heart sank. Was Genevieve becoming uncandid?

”Nothing else,” he said. ”Just to justify me in your eyes?”

She hesitated, ”No, that was not quite all, but it is too early to talk about it yet.”

”Anything that interests you, my dear, I should like to hear about from the beginning.” Perhaps Genevieve was not so unemotional after all, for at this expression of his affection, her eyes filled with tears.

”I long to tell you,” she said. ”I only hesitated on your account, but of course I want all your help and advice. It's this: There seems to be no doubt that the conditions under which women are working in our factories are hideous--dangerous--the law is broken with perfect impunity. I know you can't act on rumors and hearsay. Even the inspectors don't give out the truth. And so we are going to persuade the Woman's Forum to abandon its old policy of mere discussion.

”We--Betty and I--are going to get the members for once to act--to make an investigation; so that the instant you come into the office you will have complete information at your disposal--facts, and facts and facts on which you can act.”

She paused and looked eagerly at her husband, who remained silent.

Seeing this she went on:

”I know what you're thinking. I thought of it myself. Am I justified in using my position in the Woman's Forum to further your political career?