Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/43

 one of an Evanston set who took social affairs very seriously and who consciously considered the Hales as a little beyond the edge of "acceptance" by their families. Seated between George Chaden and Fred Vane and on the same side of the table with Ethel Chaden, she was with others who more or less felt they were initiating the Hales into society; so there was plenty of vivacious effort on that side.

"The Follies; yes—wasn't that perfectly frightful?—Poiret model.—My dear, I saw her at the Casino and she said.—No; Chick Evans will play—well, it is absolutely certain they are engaged if not quietly married"

Gregg could keep in that sort of talk without using his mind at all; usually he did so, but to-night he began thinking about these people who were entertaining him. He noticed that Mr. Hale, having put every one at ease as much as possible, had himself dropped out of the conversation and was contenting himself with following the lively, light-headed talk. Occasionally he seemed to become abstracted and his thought to go far from this table; but a word to him instantly drew him back. He watched his daughter almost continually, and Gregg, watching him, saw his eyes soften with his pride; now and then, in a manner which made Gregg think he was following an old, fond habit, he glanced at his wife and waited till her eyes met his, when he would smile in a way which seemed to say, "This is all pretty good, isn't it?"

One would say—Gregg speculated—that here was a man well satisfied with his family life. If an outsider were to judge from appearances, Mrs. Hale would seem the one discontented with the domestic circle and striving for something else.