"Yes, I know, but he had not the least idea that we were dining out to-night; it was quite an impromptu arrangement and daddy might be vexed if Maudie said anything to him about it--'We saw you dining with a lady the other night'--you know, that sort of thing." "Is he--um--um--" "What do you mean by um--?" "Is he touchy?" "Oh no, take him all round he is the most amiable person I know; but there are limits to every man's patience, and if daddy is bothered with the firm's business, as mother seems to imply, it might vex him; besides, mother doesn't wish it mentioned, and that's enough; he's _her_ husband." "And, Julia," said Harry Marksby, as they drove up to the door of the restaurant, "if every woman was as wise as your mother, there wouldn't be much domestic broiling to worry the world." And then he jumped out and held out his hand for Julia to alight. Regina behaved admirably at this juncture; she kept it up, she made a very good supper; but then, you know, that was one of Regina's excellent qualities; when in tribulation her appetite did not fail her. Finally Regina and Julia drove down to the nearest station on the district railway and took train for the Park. They found Mr. Whittaker already come in. "Well, dearest," he said, as they rustled into the dining-room where he was sitting reading, "you never told me you were going to galavant." "No; for, you see, we took it into our heads that we would go to a theatre, and then Harry and Maudie gave us supper at the Golden Butterfly afterwards. We have had a great time, haven't we, Julia?" "A great time," said Julia. "I like a little supper after a theatre, it always seems so dull, bundling out and scrambling off to one's train. And how long have you been home, daddy?" "Oh, ever so long; I got home before ten. And what theatre did you go to?" Regina explained, and Alfred mixed her a little whisky-and-soda, and Julia said she would go to bed, for she was dead beat, and so on; and still Regina said nothing beyond throwing out a feeler in order that her husband might confide anything to her if he wished to do so. "You got through your business, Alfred?" "Yes--yes, yes." "And brought it to a successful issue?" "Well--I can't exactly say that, but I have put things in train." He gave a short angry sigh, as if he were vexed with himself and the world in general.