Page:To-morrow Morning (1927).pdf/137

 "Pardon me, Charlotte, but Hoagland Driggs is not what I would call a gentleman."

"I'd like to know why not!"

"I have good and sufficient reason for my statement."

"Well, what?"

"Things I wouldn't care to mention before women."

"I think it's the limit to say such things and then not prove them."

"You probably don't recall that he had to be sent away from home in disgrace"

"He was simply sent away to boarding school, and, anyway, that was ages ago, when he was just a child!"

"The child is father to the man. I think Mrs. Green will bear me out in that statement."

"Hoagland Driggs"

"Pardon me, Charlotte, the dad always used to say there were three rules by which you could tell a gentleman—number one"

Was this Charlotte, this burning blush, this torrent of indignant words pouring over Hartley as he hopped on one leg in the hall, putting on an overshoe, trying to get in calming remarks—"One moment, Charlotte—" "Pardon me, Charlotte, a woman isn't capable"

"I do believe you're right! I do believe Charlotte's in love with Hoagland!" Kate said, awed, to Joe, as she washed the supper dishes and he sat smoking on the kitchen table. Her wonderful perceptive son!