Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/205

 there, you ought to know, wasn't entirely paid for by your father. Mrs. Russell supports herself."

"Do you mean my mother ought to have worked? Why, it would have been so absurd, it was so unnecessary."

"To buy bread for the family, yes; but not for other reasons. You simply can't ignore Mrs. Russell, Marjorie; for she not only took away your father but she has no idea of giving him up; she's going to use everything she has to hold him."

"How do you know?"

"She told me so to-day in plain English."

"What? You talked with her, about father, to-day?"

"Yes; we had lunch together."

"What?"

Gregg repeated it; but Marjorie seemed yet unable to believe. "You and she!"

"Yes," said Gregg.

For an instant she stood stark, staring up at him in the dark; then, without a word, she turned from him and started down the path they had walked together. For a few moments, he watched after and then he followed, slowly overtaking her but never coming quite beside her until they reached the walk at the end of the path; then side by side but without a word, they continued to her home.

How he had bungled it, Gregg accused himself in his dismay, as he realized he had spent his chance with her and had failed her—failed, in his way, as abjectly as Billy had failed in his, and by what he had done and said shut himself off from power further to influence her as finally as Billy had.

Reaching the house, Gregg followed Marjorie upon