But is Rosalie, and is your mother?"
"My father is a business man and will know what can be done. He will
know what is worth doing," she answered, without noticing his
question. "But," she added the words slowly, "I have been making up
my mind--before I write to him--to say something to you--to ask you a
question."
He made a mock sentimental gesture.
"To ask me to spare my wife, to 'remember that she is the mother of my
child'?"
She passed over that also.
"To ask you if there is no possible way in which all this unhappiness
can be ended decently."
"The only decent way of ending it would be that there should be no
further interference. Let Rosalie supply the decency by showing me the
consideration due from a wife to her husband. The place has been put in
order. It was not for my benefit, and I have no money to keep it up. Let
Rosalie be provided with means to do it."
As he spoke the words he realised that he had opened a way for
embarrassing comment. He expected her to remind him that Rosalie had not
come to him without money. But she said nothing about the matter. She
never said the things he expected to hear.
"You do not want Rosalie for your wife," she went on "but you could
treat her courteously without loving her.
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