He was
glad he was angry. He'd just begun!
"If you want me to leave her alone," his daughter cut in sharply, "just say
so! I'll leave it all to you!" And she saw him flinch a little. "What would
be _your_ idea?" she asked.
"My idea? She's to go straight home and make up with him!"
She hesitated. Then she said:
"Suppose there's another woman."
"Then he's a beast," growled Roger.
"And yet you want her to live with him?"
He scowled, he felt baffled, his mind in a whirl. And a wave of
exasperation suddenly swept over him.
"Well, why shouldn't she?" he cried. "Other wives have done it--millions!
Made a devilish good success of it, too--made new men of their husbands!
Let her show him she's ready to forgive! That's only Christian, ain't it?
Hard? Of course it's hard on her! But can you tell me one hard thing she
has ever had to do in her life? Hasn't it been pleasure, pleasure from the
word go? Can't she stand something hard? Don't we all of us have to? I
do--God knows--with all of you!" And he puffed his cigar in a fury. His
daughter smiled. She saw her chance.
"Father," she said, in a low clear voice, "You've had so _many_ troubles.
Why not leave this one to me? You can't help--no matter how hard you
try--you'll only make it worse and worse. And you've been through so much
this year--you've earned the right to be quiet. And that's what _they_
want, both of them--they both want it quiet, without any scandal.
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